Council Opts For Luxury Leisure Facilities Over Social Homes

Westminster Council has accepted £600,000 in cash from the developer of a five star hotel and private members’ club in place of new social homes. The contribution to the borough’s affordable housing fund from Prime Investors Capital is more than £400,000 less than outlined in the council’s own policies.

However, Westminster gave formal approval for PIC’s plans to renovate Admiralty Arch on Tuesday, accepting a separate £100,000 contribution for ‘public art’ in the process. The planning committee decided not to try and secure this smaller sum – earmarked to complete two statues – for the affordable housing fund, despite a total of £1,015,980 needed to comply with its policy. Read more on Inside Housing.