Havering wins back Decent Homes place, drops judicial review

The London Borough of Havering has been reinstated to the government’s Decent Homes programme after withdrawing its judicial review action.

Havering launched the judicial review last year – together with a number of other affected boroughs – over the government’s announcement that some Decent Homes funding would be deferred temporarily and put into house building instead.

Negotiations with the Homes and Communities Agency following the withdrawal of the legal action have seen Havering put back on the programme. It has been allocated £112m over five years to improve council homes in the authority, with a first payment of £9m due later this year.

Cllr Michael White, Leader of Havering Council, said: “We’re really pleased that the government has put us back on the Decent Homes programme and unlocked millions of pounds for funding for improvements to our council homes. We knew that our argument was a strong one and we were confident that we could reach an agreement with the government.”

Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, said: “Withdrawal from the judicial review meant that we were able to continue discussions which began before the legal action was launched, and as a result we have all been able to agree a way to get Havering onto the Decent Homes programme.”