Cllr Greenhalgh says mission is to regenerate deprived areas
The Leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, responds to concerns over the future of council housing in the borough:
"Many council estates have become what they were fighting in the first place - social ghettos."
These are not my words but the words of Sir Robin Wales, the Mayor of Newham. Up and down the country there is rightfully a debate and a consensus about the need to provide mixed and balanced communities. Most of all, in some areas housing estates are failing the people they were designed to help - council tenants themselves.
With our high levels of poverty, we have set ourselves the mission to regenerate the most deprived parts of the borough. We want to keep our residents in the borough by providing better housing, attracting more jobs, creating a better housing environment and giving people a chance to get onto the property ladder.
Standing still is simply not an option when it will cost the council over £1billion over the next 30 years just to maintain our existing housing stock. Our ambition to redevelop some of our council estates over the next 15-20 years is not a secret plot but the way to deliver more homes and better quality housing in a greatly improved environment. In some ways we are behind other parts of London as the redevelopment of the Ferrier Estate in Greenwich, Aylesbury Estate in Southwark, Woodberry Down in Hackney and West Hendon in Barnet is already underway.
I was struck by the story of one of our residents who lives on the Clem Attlee estate in North Fulham. She works hard and is proud of her home once she closes the door at night. But that pride seeps away once she steps outside and is confronted by her immediate housing environment.
Is it really right that in the 21st century thousands of people are living in estates separated from the rest of the community? Shouldn't we be looking at tearing down the physical and social barriers that separate so many? That is not to say that all estates are bad, nor is redevelopment the answer in every case. For example, at Edward Woods we are spending nearly £16 million refurbishing it.
Let's be clear. This isn't about social engineering, gerrymandering or shipping poor people out as some of our opponents would have you believe. This is about ensuring people want to carry on living in the area by giving people real choice and opportunity.
Opportunity to step on the property ladder should they wish because we are going to work damned hard to provide people with low cost home ownership options. Why should the aspiration of owning a home belong to London's wealthy elite alone?
Opportunity to raise their children in a housing environment that is fit for purpose and continues to meet rising resident expectations.
Opportunity to send their children to modern, well equipped local schools and high achieving schools.
Opportunity for people to find a local job by making ensure we attract millions of pounds of new investment in our neighbourhoods.
Choice about what kind of house or flat they want to live in as their needs change. That means tackling head-on the desperate lack of family-sized accommodation in our borough and ensuring that our housing stock is accessible and fit for purpose for our ageing population.
The work we are doing to improve our neighbourhoods isn't just about the housing environment alone. It is also about reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and improving community facilities. That's why we are working together NHS Hammersmith & Fulham to build a £20 million health centre in White City.
I understand as the Leader of H&F Council that talk of demolishing people's homes is a hugely emotive subject. I understand the concerns and fears people have. But let me tell our tenants and leaseholders clearly - we have set out our vision because we want to make your housing environment better. We are giving a cast-iron guarantee that where renewal opportunities arise ALL council tenants will be offered a permanent home in the area. ALL leaseholders and freeholders will receive the compensation to which they are entitled and there will be no reduction in the amount of social housing.
This is a bold, ambitious council that has set out a vision for Hammersmith & Fulham to become the Borough of Opportunity instead of a borough of contrasts.
Stephen Greenhalgh, Leader, Hammersmith & Fulham Council
15 July 2009
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