Westminster Labour today celebrated the ‘topping out ceremony’ for Balmoral House, a 100% social rent housing development in Pimlico. This milestone marks real progress in delivering the genuinely affordable homes local families need, in a borough where nearly 7,000 families are waiting for a home on our social housing register.
Under the previous Conservative administration, plans for this site would have delivered zero affordable homes. Westminster Labour took a fundamentally different approach, committing to social rent homes that keep local people in their community.
Once complete, Balmoral House will deliver 10 high-quality, energy-efficient social rent homes: eight four-bedroom homes, one three-bedroom home, and one one-bedroom home. The development also includes landscaped green space for the enjoyment of the wider Churchill Gardens community.
While the Conservatives failed to build social housing in Westminster, Labour is taking action to tackle the housing crisis head-on. Residents should not risk a return to a Conservative council that would not deliver homes like these. Only Westminster Labour is committed to building the social housing our communities need and delivering a Fairer Westminster.
Alongside Balmoral House, Westminster Labour has already delivered Darwin House (Block A) on this site, providing 34 modern Community Supportive Housing homes for older residents, designed to HAPPI standards. Residents have been successfully rehoused into these high-quality homes, which include communal facilities for social activities and guest rooms for visitors, helping residents to live independently and stay connected within their community.
“This 100% social rent development will make a real difference to families living in temporary accommodation or overcrowded homes. Having a secure, high-quality home will give families stability, reduce stress, and allow children and parents alike to plan for the future. Balmoral House is about more than building homes, it is about changing lives for the better and giving families the opportunity to put down roots and truly thrive in their community.” Cllr Ellie Ormsby, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters
“This project shows what can be achieved when councils and the Greater London Authority work together to deliver for Londoners. Funding from the GLA has been vital in making this 100% social rent development possible. By investing in genuinely affordable homes, we are supporting families who need it most and ensuring communities like Churchill Gardens can continue to thrive.” Cllr James Small-Edwards, Deputy Cabinet Member for Regeneration and London Assembly Member for West Central