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West London council to assess 171 estates for regeneration in major borough-wide plan
A west London council is to assess its 171 council estates for regeneration as it works towards a target to see 5,000 affordable homes delivered in the borough by 2022.
Hounslow Council’s cabinet agreed on Tuesday to prepare a programme for estate regenerations over the next 20 years.
It said the programme will deliver hundreds of new affordable homes and be shaped by residents.
Councillors agreed that the 440-home Convent Way Estate in Heston will be the first for redevelopment; the local authority hopes to deliver 1,100 new homes in its place.
According to a report to the cabinet, the estate is seeing rising maintenance costs and persistent fly-tipping, as well as being unlikely to meet the council’s energy efficiency targets.
It added that the regeneration will involve “plans for early, active engagement” with tenants and leaseholders and will require a resident ballot.
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Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, said: “I am delighted with this chance to create new, high-quality and energy-efficient homes, as well as opportunities for new community and health facilities, shops, improved transport links, and green and leisure spaces.
“It will take us one step further to delivering our housing pledge and our strategic aspirations for building more vibrant, thriving places where people will enjoy living.
“It is vital that residents and the local communities support us in our aspirations.”
The cabinet agreed to spend £600,000 developing its regeneration programme, including consultation with residents – £425,000 will come from the Housing Revenue Account and the remaining £175,000 grant supplied by the Greater London Authority.
Initial assessments of the council’s major estates have identified six, including Convent Way, which are “poor performing” and considered in need of regeneration.
The assessments took into account maintenance costs and rental income, resident satisfaction and complaints, crime and anti-social behaviour, access to local amenities, rent arrears and void loss, average lengths of tenancy, and Ofsted ratings for local schools.
Hounslow owns more than 13,000 council homes and has committed to building 1,000 more by March 2022.
