Jane Seymour, Development Partnership Broker
Minutes:
Jane Seymour and Catherine Bates from Southwark’s regeneration team introduced this item, first giving background information on the project including that the council owned the freehold of the 28.5-hectare, centrally-located site. The original estate had been constructed in the 1960s, and included Wendover – the longest housing block in Europe. The estate was among the 15% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. 38% of its residents were aged less than 19 years, and 68% come from minority groups, speaking 26 languages and representing people of all major religions. The estate also had strong community leadership and involvement through the Creation Trust.
They went on to explain that the council’s vision was for the Aylesbury Estate to become a vibrant area within the Walworth neighbourhood. This included homes with a range of tenure and ownership options that were attractive, and affordable for local residents. A mixed community should be created which included families, older and vulnerable people, excellent schools, improved transport, community facilities and new businesses, as well as high quality public realm - including well-designed streets, squares and parks – all of which had to be safe and sustainable.
In January 2014, Cabinet had approved the appointment of Notting Hill Housing Trust as preferred partner, and in April 2014 the development partnership agreement contract was going to awarded. This contract would run for 20 years.
Other benefits of the redevelopment included employment and training opportunities for local residents – a total of 1,400 over the life of the programme. There would be a new community building on site. Moreover, there were also opportunities for interim uses on vacant sites, and Notting Hill would provide dedicated staff to work with residents on re-housing and employability. There were also going to be affordable re-housing options for leaseholders, and opportunities for all residents to be involved in the area management.
In terms of next steps, there would soon be a consultation on the design proposals, which would be followed by the submitting of a planning application, and a master plan for the area.
NOTE: At this point, Councillor Claire Hickson joined the meeting.
In answer to questions, Jane Seymour responded that the allotments were likely to be oversubscribed, but that there would be raised beds for growing fruit and vegetables, too. Notting Hill would be conducting the consultation which would be happening soon. There would not be any gated communities, public access would be guaranteed, except for private courtyards inside the blocks, throughout the development. Affordable rents would be in line with council rents. The community centre would be built by Notting Hill, but the council would have use of it for free. The new homes would be well-sized either equivalent to or larger than the current room-sizes on the Aylesbury, and the new development would have a lot of green space. Tenants, who would be decanting from the estate would be offered accommodation in other parts of the borough, and would have the right to return. The development including the community centre would be sound-proofed so that residents were not exposed to excessive noise. Tenure types would be evenly distributed across flat sizes and development types. The dwellings would also have blind tenure, meaning that the flat types would not look different outside. This development represented a chance for quality housing to be built. There was a development trust which would have residents feeding into the process.
Catherine said she would take away a question regarding leaseholders from the Heygate potentially being offered places in the new Aylesbury development.
For further information, please contact: the Aylesbury Regeneration Team on aylesburyteam@southwark.gov.uk or 020 7525 4817.