Report by Alice Richardson, Local Democracy Reporter Plans for 91 new homes and a nursery for Walthamstow town centre have been approved. Waltham Forest […]By Alice Richardson, Local Democracy Reporter

Impression of how the new tower block at the site of Juniper House in Walthamstow will look

Plans for 91 new homes and a nursery for Walthamstow town centre have been approved.

Waltham Forest Council gave the go ahead for a new 17-storey tower block at Juniper House, Hoe Street, which will include 23 flats for social rent and 18 for shared ownership.

The plans also include a 53-place pre-school nursery with its own play area at the back of the site as well as flexible commercial space and a ‘pocket park’ along Hoe Street.

The council was granted £2.48million by the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) ‘Building Council Homes for London’ programme to enable the site to have 50% ‘affordable’ housing.

Simon Miller, cabinet member for economic growth and high streets, said: “The planning approval of 91 new homes at Juniper House is part of our wider vision to ensure we deliver much needed housing for our local people.

“We are committed to delivering 1,800 new homes a year over the next ten years.

“Not only are new homes prioritised for local people welcomed, but also the provision of a new nursery, something our residents have told us they want.”

Juniper House previously housed the council’s children and families services, before these were relocated to the town hall campus as part of the council’s plans to bring all council services on to one site.

Developer Hill Partnerships Limited has been awarded the design and build contract for the scheme. The council will retain ownership of the land when the development is completed, with the aim to ensure long-term benefits are maximised for local people.

Work on the site will start this summer and is due to finish in early 2021.

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