The Mayor of London has published the city’s first ever guide to estate regeneration which will give people a say in new schemes and protect social housing.
Sadiq Khan wants to put residents at the heart of decision making and wants to introduce mandatory ballots for housing schemes where any demolition is planned as a strict condition of his funding.
The Better Homes for Local People’ good practice guide is the first time any Mayor in the UK has set out strong guidelines on estate regeneration for London and comes after an extensive and comprehensive consultation process.
While the Mayor has limited sway when it comes to estate regeneration, he is determined to use his funding and planning powers to their fullest extent to protect social housing and give its residents a voice in the capital.
The guide seeks to empower tenants, leaseholders and freeholders in developing regeneration plans with their landlords. It forms a key part of the Mayor’s broader calls for social housing residents to have a bigger say in the future of their estates following last year’s horrific fire at Grenfell Tower.
The detailed proposals for ballots will be separately consulted on for two months to become a condition of funding for new schemes in the capital.
There are estimated to be around 25 estate regeneration schemes underway at any one time in London involving funding from City Hall, and under the Mayor’s plans all such schemes would, in future, require a successful ballot outcome before their funding could be approved.
The Mayor’s guide explains what he believes Londoners living on social housing estates should expect from their landlords when regeneration is proposed, with full consultation and involvement from the outset being crucial. Where demolition is proposed, the Mayor wants to see councils and housing associations follow the principles set out in the guide.
He also said that he wants a fair deal for leaseholders and freeholders and he will use his draft new London Plan to ensure no net loss of social housing and an increase in affordable homes wherever possible. He will help make sure there is clear resident support for major schemes that involve any demolition through his proposed condition that Mayoral funding in future will be dependent on a positive resident ballot on landlords’ plans.
During its formal consultation last year, the draft version of the Mayor’s guide received more than 2,000 responses from Londoners, which showed strong support for his commitment to ensuring no loss of social housing in any estate regeneration programme, and looking to increase the amount of affordable housing whenever possible.
‘We need more social housing in London, not less, which is why I will use all my powers to make sure that any plans for estate regeneration protect existing social housing and take every opportunity to build more,’ said Khan.
‘My guide sets out how I will use my investment powers in a way they have never been used before, by requiring resident support through a ballot for new plans involving demolition where City Hall funding is involved,’ he explained.
‘I want to make sure people living on social housing estates, who have the greatest interest in their future, are at the heart of any decisions from the outset. By involving residents and putting social housing first, we can make sure plans for estate regeneration help build a city for all Londoners,’ he added.
