Key workers according to the council:

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Web designers, marketing consultants, data analysts and building managers living in Imperial Warf

Following reports in the Evening Standard that reveal Labour’s “template” for key worker housing has only one genuine key worker in it, Cllr Greg Hands has condemned the Labour Council for being all talk and no action.

Evening Standard reporters focused on the Imperial Wharf development, half of which is supposedly affordable housing, 15 per cent of which is for key workers. In Mallard House, part of the development, reporters found just one key worker, a primary school teacher, among a plethora of web designers, marketing consultants, data analysts and building managers.

Cllr Hands believes this is conclusive proof that so called “key worker” housing is actually providing a subsidy to virtually anyone. This is in part due to the Council’s ideologically driven belief - as seen in the Council’s Unitary Development Plan - that the only new homes in the Borough should be social housing for rent.

The development was praised by Ken Livingstone as "a template of what I want to see across London".

Commenting, Cllr Hands said:

“The Imperial Wharf development, the Council’s flagship housing development, is turning out to be unsustainable, with 50 per cent luxury penthouse-style apartments, and 50 per cent social housing for rent.

“The Council talks about Hammersmith & Fulham being a divided community with huge "inequalities" and then builds 1,800 new homes guaranteed to significantly exacerbate the long-term problem.

“Genuine key workers in Hammersmith & Fulham – teachers, doctors, nurses, policemen – deserve a little more honesty from this Labour Council.”


October 17, 2004