Maida Vale Labour Councillors have called on Westminster Council to speed up developing the Carlton Dene site on Carlton Vale. The Council plans to develop this area as an Extra Care facility for older residents along with a new affordable housing block.

The closure of Carlton Dene care home and the demolition of Peebles House next door were signed-off in 2019, yet development work is now not planned to begin until mid-2022 at the earliest. Council officers are understood to be having difficulties finding a private operator to build and manage the new facility. Meanwhile, the empty buildings lie derelict and have attracted squatters and weeds in equal measure.

Councillor Geoff Barraclough said:

“These buildings could still be in use but, instead, are an eyesore that is attracting anti-social behaviour. Westminster needs to speed up its development plans and get on with the job.”

Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis said:

“Westminster should stop wasting time finding a private sector operator. Instead, it should bring build and manage Carlton Dene itself, ensuring that the new facility will be open and welcoming new residents as soon as possible.”