Barnet Council celebrates as residents move into new council homes

Barnet Council marks a new milestone as residents complete move in to 249 council homes in Colindale.

Celebrations were held as residents completed their move into the newly acquired council homes.

The event, held at the latest phase of the Colindale Gardens development, marked a significant stride in Barnet’s commitment to deliver 1,000 new council homes by 2026.

Of the 249 there is a diverse range of properties, including 42 three-bedroom family homes and 40 wheelchair-adaptable residences. Accompanying these are studios, and one and two-bedroom properties, catering to various housing needs.

Attending the event were Cllr Ross Houston, Barnet’s deputy council leader and cabinet member for homes and regeneration, local ward councillors, Barnet Homes and Barnet council officers, and Paul Muldowney, managing director of developer Redrow’s London Division.

Houston said: “Delivering the right homes to meet diverse needs now and for future generations, that people can afford and are in the right places, is a key priority and challenge for the council.

“The successful purchase and letting of these homes are a significant milestone in our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable housing for our residents. This helps not only address the acute housing shortage but also substantially minimises temporary accommodation costs.”

These properties will be managed by council-owned housing company Barnet Homes, bolstering its existing social housing portfolio of 13,000 properties across the borough.

The acquisition of the homes at Colindale Gardens forms a key part of the council’s invest-to-save strategy. Increasing the supply of homes brings down the cost of providing temporary accommodation, which is currently a major pressure on the council’s budget. The purchase of the 249 homes, which was funded by the council’s Housing Revenue Account, is already generating significant savings.