Letter to Editor: Why is Occasio House sitting empty?
News / Thu 30th Apr 2020 at 08:37am
Dear Editor,
I am sure I am not alone in continuing to be concerned about Occasio House sitting empty whilst housing need remains high and people with such needs are forced to accept substandard accommodation in places such as Terminus House.
I recently raised this with our MP and I believe that the response to Mr Halfon from L & Q (East Thames) may be of interest to your readers.
The letter from L & Q (East Thames) says:
Thank you for contacting us regarding Occassio House and the concerns that you have raised regarding the vacant units.
Since the building became empty, we have been in discussions with the Council regarding temporary use of the accommodation but due to the cladding fire risk this is no longer a viable option.
Our original intention was that we would invest in these units to bring them back to a habitable standard. In terms of the cost of removing and replacing the cladding, this is approximately £3m but the overall cost of bringing the properties back into use is around £4m. We are looking at all options that are available to ensure the best outcome for all involved.
As a result, we are discussing disposing the building to the Council for redevelopment. As I am sure you are aware, these plans and agreement can often take some time to work through but I can assure you that all parties involved are working hard to confirm a position going forward so we can plan for the future.
We agree and appreciate that no building should be let unoccupied for this amount of time while there are people needing a place to live and we are working with both internal and external colleagues for the best outcome.
I hope the above provides some assurance regarding the concerns raised, but please do not hesitate in making contact if there is anything further.
Yours sincerely
Aine McGaley
Assistant Director – North East Neighbourhood
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I believe that a roof over our head is a basic human need. Naturally any accommodation needs to be safe and of a suitable standard. I will continue to pray that a partnership approach to resolving Occassio House will emerge for the benefit of those with such needs in Harlow.
Ian Beckett
Chair of Heart 4 Harlow Civic Group
durcant
2020-04-30 18:28:19
As the cabinet member for Economic growth I can confirm the Harlow Council has had a desire to buy occasio house and bring it back into use for sometime. We have been in constructive discussions to enable us to realise our ambitions. As this is public money it’s imperative that we get the right deal that’s the best for Harlow. Sometimes things happen very quickly and sometimes it’s takes sometime to resolve the challenges. However it’s never over until we have signed sealed and delivered the project. We will make a formal announcement if or when we agree the deal. Quietly getting on with making a difference. Thank you.
MickyB77
2020-05-01 06:37:04
Still as misguided and pompous as ever, definitely not making a difference. The place has been closed for what, four years or more, time enough to have built a new property on the site. Same old Loony Left.
tenpin
2020-05-01 10:08:30
Well it would seem that we have another Prentice Place on our hands, leave it to this Labour Council and it will be well over a decade before anything happens to Occasio House. To coin a phrase, all talk and no do .... 4 years and counting. If the cost of £4 million is correct, removing the cladding and converting the existing 100 plus shoebox sized homes into say 50 family sized homes would represent very good value for money. Better still, if they were converted into a complex for older residents (something a survey carried out by The Harlow Alliance Party found had overwhelming support for), many homes presently under occupied could be released for families on Harlow Council's Housing Register. this is the ideal location for such a development, situated as it is a stones throw away from so many of the towns facilities and services. Instead of which we have a Labour Party in control who think it is better to build on some of the towns green open spaces, thankfully rejected by the Inspector of the Council's Local Plan. Quietly getting on and making a difference .... you must be joking!
durcant
2020-05-01 16:05:04
Just for the record. Harlow Council have never owed this house and therefore can’t be held responsible for the landlords decision to close it 4 years ago. The labour council fought against the Tory county council over its decision to cancel the contract and leave vulnerable young people homeless. The housing association closed the building with the desire to change into other homes. The Tory government then changed the rules around funding for HAs. Due to the cladding issue the HA chose to leave it empty. The council was in regular contact asking what was happening. When the council became aware that the owner was thinking about putting this on the market we expressed an interest. We can’t go into details but as stated the Labour council ambition is to owe it and get it open. Blame us if we buy it and then do nothing. We’re getting on with this with due diligence and in a professional manner. We may achieve our ambition and we may not. So make the pathetic and pointless politics point scoring but we’re getting on and making a difference.
tenpin
2020-05-01 17:14:24
Well durcant we all know the council have never owed it let alone owned it and we all know what financial difficulties the H/A faced in keeping it open. But tell us; 1 Just how long ago did the council become aware that the H/A were going to put it on the market? 2 If the council really have a wish to buy it, they must have a very good idea of what they will do with it, bearing in mind the financial sums that will have to be done to ensure that both short and long term funding is in place. So what is your plan for the building? 3 In the absence of council meetings, this is the only forum where the council can be scrutinised in public ... I will let readers decide whether the points I made in my original post are pointless political point scoring. The facts are simple, Prentice Place stood empty for over a decade, Occasia House for 4 years, the common denominator is a Labour Council.
MickyB77
2020-05-02 05:30:48
durcant, least said, soonest mended, it's the endemic problem with most of the Socialist group in Harlow, the F I M issue, or "foot in mouth" syndrome, beloved by your party and most of the local councillors. So, to coin a phrase, ' diligently ' respond to the comments made by 'tenpin', I'm sure that you can come up with something better than, " fighting the Tories".
Julie Taylor
2022-04-13 10:31:04
2 years later. What has happened? Anyone?
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