Hounslow Council approved a move to build 1000 new council homes in the borough at a cabinet meeting on 17th January, but this will lead to rent increases in social housing. 

Hounslow Council have approved the move to build 1000 houses by 2026 as part of their commitment to fight against the housing crisis. 

The Housing Delivery Plan 2022-26 will see almost £1 billion invested into building the new homes over four years, including £160 million in grant funding from the Greater London Authority. 

As part of financing the plan, rent increases for those in social housing are projected to be CPI+0.5% across the four years, with rent increases capped at 7% and this level is set to be extended to 2025/26. 

Rent increases for those who don't use universal credit or housing benefit to pay the rent will see it rise no more than £35 per month. 

Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development said: "We have a fantastic track record of delivering homes for local people, having exceeded our previous pledge in the last administration.  

"The shortage of quality homes – at genuinely afford rents for local people – has meant demand for Council housing has continued to increase, which is why we have once again committed to building 1,000 new high-quality homes for local people.   

"As our local population grows it's important, we meet the varying needs of our residents, building 1-,2-,3- and 4-bedroom homes are a key part of our delivery plan.   

"By building more homes we are also reducing the pressure on our front door services that help to prevent homelessness.  

"We'll therefore be more equipped to provide early intervention support to help those residents in need before they reach crisis point, while also being able to reduce our reliance on temporary accommodation and private landlords.   

"This also provides us with a fantastic wider benefit such as creating a range of jobs and apprenticeship training opportunities for local people in the borough and ensuring we have a housing stock fit for the future to reduce our carbon emissions as a borough." 

The new developments are all set to be low carbon to be in line with the council's climate change commitments, the first of these projects are already underway, with 120 new homes being built in Hanworth Park House and 209 at Charlton House. 

Between 2018 and 2022, Hounslow Council built 1169 new homes, having set the target of building 1000 during that time period.