London Assembly Member Sian Berry has written to the Deputy Mayor for Housing, James Murray, to stand up for the rights of residents to be more involved in the redevelopment of London’s council estates.
In response to questions from Sian Berry AM, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor have promised to publish new guidance for developers and councils. The guidance will detail how to engage with residents and select options for estates.[1,2]
Today’s letter sets out specific recommendations for how to ensure residents’ own plans are worked up into viable proposals and that residents themselves have the final say over what options are chosen.
Sian says:
“I have written to the Deputy Mayor with detailed recommendations about how residents should have a real say over the future of their estates. Important decisions about Londoners’ homes should be made with the full involvement of residents on estates, not behind closed doors in developer and council offices.
“On many estates, residents have put forward their own plans for building more homes without demolishing the ones they live in. My recommendations include that City Hall should provide expert help to develop these proposals and ensure they are included in the final options put to residents for decisions.
“I am also very concerned to make sure the Mayor sticks to the promise he made to me that private renters, who are often overlooked, have a full say when estate plans are made.”
Sian is working to ensure the Mayor keeps his manifesto pledges to: “Require that estate regeneration only takes place where there is resident support, based on full and transparent consultation, and that demolition is only permitted where it does not result in a loss of social housing, or where other all options have been exhausted”. [3]
Over the past decade, estate demolition has led to the net loss of over 8,000 social rented and affordable homes in London.[4]
Notes to editors
- The full letter is available HERE.
- Sian is available for interview – 020 7983 4358
- Sian Berry was elected as a Green member of the London Assembly in May 2016. She has been a councillor for Highgate ward in Camden since 2014.
1. Assembly Housing Committee transcript 7 June 2016, page 26: https://www.london.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/b14502/Minutes%20-%20Appendix%201%20-%20Transcript%20of%20Item%2010%20Tuesday%2007-Jun-2016%2010.00%20Housing%20Committee.pdf?T=9
2. Oral question to the Mayor, 20 July: http://questions.london.gov.uk/QuestionSearch/searchclient/questions/question_288617
3. Sadiq Khan manifesto on homes: http://www.sadiq.london/homes_for_londoners_manifesto
4. Evidence obtained by Darren Johnson AM, Feb 2016: https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/darren-johnson/loss-of-social-housing-through-estate-regeneration