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Regeneration of Clarion estate highlighted by ITV given council boost following delays
A council has provided financial support to a delayed regeneration project on an estate owned by Clarion that has received media attention as a result of the poor conditions currently being faced by residents living there.
Merton Council’s cabinet has signed off a multimillion-pound package of measures to restart the regeneration of the Eastfields, High Path and Ravensbury estates, which had stalled due to increased construction costs and the current economic outlook.
The Eastfields Estate is one of the estates that has been highlighted by a recent investigation by ITV into poor conditions within properties owned by a number of social landlords, including Clarion, L&Q and Croydon Council.
A video of the estate showed collapsing ceilings, mould and rodents. In response, Clarion pointed to plans to regenerate the estate, but admitted that it had not achieved the right balance between short-term and long-term spending on an estate that had “come to the end of its life”.
Clarion has outline planning permission for the regeneration of all three estates and the first phases of the High Path and Ravensbury estates have already completed.
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However, the housing association said that increased construction costs and the worsening economic outlook mean that the project now has a financial deficit, and so work is behind schedule at Eastfields.
To help speed up the project, Merton Council has agreed to suspend its right to receive 5% of the value of properties sold by Clarion as part of the scheme.
This will ensure that the regeneration is completed without the use of local council tax funds.
Martin Whelton, Merton’s cabinet member for housing, regeneration and the climate emergency, said that he “understood given previous housing issues on the estates that some residents will be cautious”, but that the council “firmly believes this is the best decision to guarantee the modernisation of their homes”.
Over the next 15 years, the project will see almost 1,200 homes rebuilt, while an additional 1,400 homes will also be delivered.
As part of the new agreement, council officers will regularly review ongoing operations through steering groups and forums.
Mr Whelton said that the council “will be in a position to better oversee the risks of the project and ensure that residents’ interests are at the forefront of all future decision-making”.
Clare Miller, chief executive of Clarion, said she was “proud” that Clarion was investing £1.3bn in this project.
She added: “We are very pleased that the cabinet has voted in favour of the regeneration plan. Clarion wants to work across the whole community to deliver our vision and this is a welcome and important decision.”
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