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A rundown house near a Surrey graveyard has been revamped to provide an affordable family home. But councillors have slammed the scheme as “overkill”. Previously in poor condition and
uninhabitable, Ashford Cemetery Lodge has been given a lease of new life. Spelthorne Borough Council recently refurbished the old cemetery manager’s accommodation at a cost of £188,000.
Developer contributions (Section 106 money) put £80,000 in the pot while the council supplied the rest. Originally the lodge had only two bedrooms but after converting two ground-floor rooms
into bedrooms, the council is now selling it as a four-bed home for a family on the housing list. Kitted up, the house now boasts two bathrooms and a new kitchen. Members agreed to sell the
property to Knowle Green Estates (KGE), the council-owned housing association, for just £273,611 at a Corporate Policy and Resources Committee on Monday, May 12. Although the property was
valued at £400,000, council policy allows the property to be disposed of to KGE for the original cost, rather than the current market value. Officers said there is “substantial demand” for
family homes in the borough. Around 96 people are on the housing waiting list with 63 of them needing to move urgently. “Affordable properties of four- bedroom size are rarely available,
which means that families stay on the register for a long period of time,” the report said. But some councillors were disappointed with how much money was spent on the makeover. Cllr John
Boughtflower slammed the home design project as “overkill”. He argued, given the council’s financial situation, whether the solar panels were necessary. Cllr Karen Howkins said: “Is it
really beneficial to spend so much money on a property that you're not sure how long people are going to be there for.” Officers told the committee the property is intended to be an
affordable "forever home", rather than temporary. Defending the project, officers said: “Residents benefit from quality accommodation.” They said it was a “cost-effective
refurbishment” which would be “sustainable” for the future with an electric boiler and solar panels. Questions were raised about why the house was only a council tax Band B, when others in
the borough are significantly higher. Officers said the original house was a two-bed property and has been valued such, but it could potentially be reassessed in the future. In January, the
newly refurbished property was priced at £550,000 for the open market. But council documents claim after all the improvement costs and legal fees were subtracted, the sale would not achieve
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