Chelsea: Veterans fear homelessness over housing plans

Guy Cholerton served in the Coldstream Guards

Veterans living in accommodation next to Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium say they fear being made homeless as they face eviction.

Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions currently houses 42 veterans some of whom have served in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.

In October, Chelsea Football Club reportedly had a bid of £80m accepted for the site.

The charity Stoll said no veteran would face homelessness.

It is understood the sale is set to be finalised early this year.

Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions was established in 1915 to provide homes for soldiers returning from war.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, of the 157 flats, only about 20 would be retained under Chelsea's plans.

Stoll said it was committed to helping all residents, regardless of how long they have lived at the site, but one of the residents claimed to BBC London that "those who have lived in the complex for less than five years will have to make their own arrangements".

The charity Stoll, which owns the building, provides accommodation for vulnerable veterans

Resident Guy Cholerton, who served in Northern Ireland and in the first Gulf War, told BBC London he feared being made homeless.

The 56-year-old said: "The fact which worries me most is becoming homeless and the detrimental effect it might have on my mental health issues, as many of the residents here suffer."

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has urged both Chelsea FC and Stoll to pause the sale while a viable solution is found for the veterans.

The council's deputy leader said he was not convinced of the need to move them.

Councillor Ben Coleman told BBC London: "If you go into the flats - and I've been in plenty - they're in extraordinary good condition. In Fulham, where Stoll is based and most of the veterans are living, there's a lot of social housing and this is among the best I've seen.

"Stoll say they need this money to look after the veterans of the future. I think it's ridiculous that you build up this charity that sacrifices the veterans of the present for the veterans of the future."

Various facilities feature on site including a communal space and medical centre, the latter of which serves 6,500 patients across the wider community.

'Beyond refurbishment'

Stoll's chief executive Will Campbell-Wroe explained the sale would secure the "long-term financial sustainability" of the charity.

"The reality is the site is not sustainable for the long term, with many of the flats beyond the scope of refurbishment," he said.

"We know that the news has had a huge impact on our residents and we understand the significant anxiety and uncertainty this will cause for many.

"It is for this reason that we have committed to helping every resident find alternative housing and we will provide more detail on this in the coming weeks.

Mr Campbell-Wroe insisted Stoll was not making veterans homeless and no veteran would be left without a home.

Conservative MP for Chelsea and Fulham, Greg Hands, said he welcomed the "intervention" by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, because "anything the council could do to help [tenants] get rehoused, provide housing... would be a good solution".

"I've known the Stoll residents for many years now and they are people who deserve to be looked after; these are people who have served their country in different conflicts," he said.

Mr Hands added: "I think it was difficult and probably not economical to refurbish the properties; that was definitely an issue."

Additional reporting by Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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