Regeneration ballots come into force in London
Estate regeneration schemes will now require ballots of residents before they can receive funding from the mayor of London, as Sadiq Khan’s new policy comes into force.
Proposals first published in draft form earlier this year received the support of 88% of those who responded to the consultation, despite London councils and housing associations being split over the policy.
The final policy was largely unchanged but did make it clear that the voting age for these ballots is 16.
It also tightened restrictions around infrastructure provision. The funding condition now specifies that where it is necessary to demolish homes on an estate in order to facilitate major rail or underground service improvements, a ballot will not be required.
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The mayor also changed his mind on landlords who have already conducted ballots for estate regeneration. City Hall said it could not be sure that such ballots have been done in the appropriate way, so these landlords must carry out new ballots as well.
Sadiq Khan said: “When estate regeneration is done well, it can improve the lives of existing residents, as well as building more social housing. But that has not always been the case. Anyone drawing up plans for estate regeneration must involve local people and must consider what impact their plans will have on people who live there now.
“That is why, from now on, City Hall funding for significant estate regeneration schemes involving any demolition of social homes will, for the first time, only be approved where there has been a positive residents’ ballot.”
The mayor also called on councils and housing associations to commit to balloting residents for schemes even when his funding is not involved.
Damien Egan, the newly-elected mayor of Lewisham, said: “Balloting residents on estate redevelopments means that existing communities are truly at the heart of changes in their area. Lewisham will be balloting residents as part of our ambitious programme to build new social and genuinely affordable homes.”
Another exemption for ballots is where there are significant safety issues for residents that require demolition.
This could be the case on the Broadwater Farm Estate in Haringey, where two blocks have been found to be at risk of collapse. The council, however, is understood to be committed to a ballot there regardless.
