Tandridge District Council, in partnership with Durkan and Circle Housing Mole Valley, has agreed the £7 million redevelopment of 1-20 Ninehams Gardens, Caterham on the Hill. The properties were built in 1946 and are in need of substantial repair. Structural surveys have shown a comprehensive redevelopment scheme is the most cost effective option.

The Council owns the freehold to the land, with 12 of the 20 two bedroom flats owned by leaseholders who bought through Right to Buy. The other 8 properties are currently used by the Council for temporary accommodation.

Housing officers will be discussing the timescale for the development with the current residents and their housing options. These include buying the leasehold properties and re-housing the other residents who live in the temporary accommodation.

The proposed scheme of 35 new houses and flats will need planning approval and an application will be submitted in the next few months. The proposed new homes will be a mixture of affordable rent and shared ownership and will be owned and managed by Circle Housing Mole Valley. A legal agreement is in place to ensure the new homes will be available to people on the Council’s housing register.

Chairman of the Housing Committee, Councillor Simon Ainsworth, said: "I am very pleased Tandridge District Council and its partners will be delivering 35 much needed affordable homes for local people. This also represents a great deal for council taxpayers. This has been a lengthy and complex process and it has taken a long time to get to this stage. We are now keen to move forward as quickly as possible to reduce any further uncertainty for existing residents. We will work with our partners to find suitable solutions for our current residents, as well to ensure high quality homes for the future."

Jim Briggs, Managing Director of Durkan, commented: “Durkan is delighted to have concluded the agreement to deliver 35 affordable homes at Ninehams Gardens and look forward to working in partnership with Circle Housing Mole Valley and Tandridge District Council.