The Officer Key Decision meeting scheduled for Friday 13 February 2026 was set to discuss the approval of a contract award for the refurbishment of 46 Clova Road. This project aims to convert the property into residential units for young single adults experiencing homelessness.

Refurbishment of 46 Clova Road

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the approval of a contract award for the refurbishment of 46 Clova Road, London, E7 9AH. This project is intended to convert the property into eight residential units to provide supported accommodation for young single adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including care leavers.

The report pack indicated that the Corporate Director of Children and Young People Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education & Sustainable Transport, was recommended to agree to accept a GLA grant payment of £1.4m for the refurbishment. Furthermore, a recommendation was made to award a contract to Re-Gen (UK) Construction Limited for the sum of £1,222,491.89 to carry out the refurbishment works. These works were scheduled to commence in early 2026 and be completed by early 2027.

The property at 46 Clova Road, built in 1929, was previously used as a family contact centre and office accommodation before becoming vacant in April 2022. The report highlighted that Newham has a significant number of households in temporary accommodation, with 164 single young people aged 18–25 currently in such accommodation due to vulnerability. The refurbishment aims to address this by providing safe, supported accommodation, thereby reducing the Council's reliance on expensive spot-purchased supported accommodation, which can exceed £1,000 per person per week.

The project aligns with the Council's Corporate Plan priorities, Homes for our Residents and Supporting our Young People, and contributes to the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and the Children in Care Sufficiency Strategy. The total estimated cost for the refurbishment project, including various associated costs such as surveys, consultancy fees, and statutory works to increase the electricity supply, was £1,664,389.27. The report noted that the contract sum secured was within the budget approved by Cabinet in October 2024.

The refurbishment works were planned to include demolition and structural alterations, installation of new finishes, fittings, windows, and doors, the creation of communal spaces, a new external fire escape, and a therapeutic garden. The procurement process involved inviting seven qualified contractors to bid, with the evaluation criteria weighted on quality, social value, and price.

The report also outlined alternative options considered and rejected, including a do nothing approach, using the property for another service area, and disposing of the property. These were rejected as they would not address the Council's strategic priorities or reduce reliance on expensive external accommodation.

The report detailed financial implications, noting that the cost would be funded by the GLA grant and the Council's Capital Programme. Legal implications were also discussed, referencing the Council's powers under the Local Government Act 1972 and the Localism Act 2011. The report also addressed equalities implications, highlighting the Public Sector Equality Duty and the positive impact the project is expected to have on care leavers, with a commitment to undertaking a full equality of opportunities screening. The Climate Action Team was to be engaged to advise on potential improvements to the property's energy efficiency.

The meeting was designated as an Officer Key Decision, meaning the decision was delegated to a relevant officer, and details of the decision were to be made available separately. The agenda indicated that the decision could not be implemented until the sixth working day following its publication to allow members to call it in.