LookWest: "Sadiq publishes estate regen guide"

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has published a draft good practice guide for estate regeneration, adherence to which would be a condition of GLA funding for any such scheme.

The guide recommends that residents must be involved at an early stage to help shape any proposals by boroughs and housing associations for estate regeneration. The draft guidelines, which have been developed with councils, housing associations and residents’ groups in recent months, recommend full rights for tenants to be rehoused on newly regenerated estates as well as a fair deal for leaseholders.

The Mayor has also set out his expectation that demolition and rebuilding should only go ahead after other ways of achieving the aim of regeneration have been considered, and where there is no loss of social housing.

The guidelines, which will be consulted on for three months, will be included in the conditions for future City Hall funding for new estate regeneration projects.

The new standards will also be applied through the planning system where possible, says the Mayor, as well as acting as a benchmark for boroughs, developers and housing associations to follow, even if the regeneration schemes do not involve the Mayor.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

"When done well, regeneration can be a positive way of protecting and improving housing estates in our great city. It offers the chance to improve the quality of housing and nearby public space, as well as building more and new affordable homes.

Many councils are developing good practice in examples of estate regenerations across the capital – through this guide, I want to bring together the approaches that have worked well.

I hope this guide will help to show that when local residents are involved from the start, and when key principles are followed, estate regeneration can help us build a city for all Londoners."

Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said:

"I share the Mayor’s belief that people not buildings should be at the heart of estate regeneration plans.  The Mayor’s new guide sets clear standards for the housing sector and provides a commitment to estate residents that their needs will be prioritised.

In Ealing we, like other boroughs, are trying to increase the housing supply across a mix of tenures, including through major regeneration projects on several of our estates. We have learnt that when you include the community in the decision making process your regeneration plans are significantly improved and you are able to build the spirit of that community into your future plans."

Barnet Council said:

"Good Grief - our arrogance, incompetence and corruption have been found out. Still, it was a good run while it lasted!"

[It didn't really say that. Although it could have done.]