Excel House was previously used as a college training facility and events venue but could now be set to house 52 units of short-term housing for homeless people, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans have been put forward to convert a semi-vacant building in Tottenham High Road into short-term emergency housing for vulnerable people.

Excel House at 312 High Road is a three-storey building that was previously used as a college training facility and events venue, but could now be set to house 52 partially self-contained dwellings. 

Each residence will have a studio layout, comprising a bed, kitchenette, and en-suite bathroom and range from 14 to 27sqm. All units would have windows.

The ground floor will retain its commercial use but gain 15 units, which would be fully accessible, as well as related staff facilities. 

A roof extension would be added to the main building which, including the 15 on the ground floor, would house 42 units in total.

A car park which serves the building and is located to the back of the site would be redeveloped to include two one-storey buildings, housing the remaining ten units as well as three disabled parking spaces and twelve cycling spaces.

The cladding on the main building has been partially removed and, if approved, would be repaired and cleaned to restore the original appearance. 

Haringey Council has stated it had become “increasingly difficult to secure good quality, sustainable and affordable temporary accommodation” and it had a “strong preference” to provide this type of accommodation.

The planning statement said the applicant, Newton Gatoff, had worked “proactively” with the council to ensure the proposal met with the relevant policies.

More information on the scheme can be found via Haringey Council’s planning portal, using reference number HGY/2024/3386.

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