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Labour ‘does not expect councils to halt estate regeneration’
Labour does not expect its councils to halt existing regeneration schemes following the announcement of the party’s new policy on tenant ballots, a source has said.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announced at the conference in Brighton last week that a Labour government would not allow councils to demolish estates without a successful tenant ballot.
This led to speculation that Labour councils in boroughs such as Lambeth and Haringey may be forced to put schemes on hold or carry out ballots.
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But a Labour source has confirmed this is not the party’s ambition, as the policy is specifically only intended to be applied if and when the party comes to power.
It would be combined with a “new settlement” for councils which would involve more flexibility on Housing Revenue Account financing, Right to Buy receipts, powers of compulsory purchase orders and land assembly, as well as new funding for regeneration.
The party does not want to “tie councils’ hands” over regeneration until these powers are in place, it is understood. The detail of ballots would be developed in consultation with councils, should Labour win power.
The issue has proved thorny as many of Mr Corbyn’s grassroots supporters and some MPs oppose regeneration schemes involving demolition in London that are backed by Labour-led councils.
The new policy was interpreted in some quarters as the party siding with the activists above its town halls. Alan Strickland, Labour cabinet member for housing at Haringey Council, which has a major series of estate regenerations planned, told The Guardian last week he did not support the move to balloting.
