Senior councillors in Harrow approved plans to sell off a number of council-owned properties in the borough to help boost its finances.

Harrow Council’s cabinet yesterday (Thursday, March 18) gave the green light to the latest disposal programme, which will see the sale of eight assets.

A ninth scheme, at Belmont Community Centre and Kingshill Car Park, will be subject to redevelopment plans, which councillors agreed to reassess at a later date.

The expected value from the sales was withheld under the Local Government Act 1972.

But a report presented to the council’s cabinet acknowledged it would have to absorb £24,000 of lost income from the pay and display revenue at Kingshill Car Park, which, it explained, is covered in its wider budget.

The sale of council-owned residential properties in Headstone Road, Canning Road, Masons Avenue and Sapphire Court in Pinner Road, as well as a cottage in North Lodge, Grimsdyke, and an outbuilding in Stanmore Hill will generate immediate funding.

According to the council report, these changes will “not materially affect the occupational tenants”.

Further investment will come from the sale of a former public toilet in Rayners Lane, while land close to the Headstone Road property will be retained by the council for possible future development.

The council report explained the properties in question are either “surplus to requirements”, have “little retention value” or would require “significant expenditure” to maintain them.

In the case of Belmont Community Centre and Kingshill Car Park, redevelopment will allow the council to potentially provide new homes while retaining community facilities.