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Metropolitan tenants vote for regeneration in first London ballot
Tenants of an estate in north London have voted in favour of regeneration in the first ballot carried out under Sadiq Khan’s new rules.
Housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley plans to regenerate Westhorpe Gardens and Mills Grove Estate in Barnet.
But under new rules introduced by the mayor of London in July as a condition of funding, the association is required to give residents a vote on the plans.
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This vote has resulted in 75% of residents voting in favour of the proposals, with 66% of 108 eligible residents casting a ballot.
The ballot was administered by Electoral Reform Services between 15 October and 5 November.
A total of 102 socially rented homes built in the 1970s are housed on the estates. There are no leaseholders or private tenants.
The plan involves demolishing these homes and replacing them with 250 new ones – 102 for social rent and a further 150 for affordable rent, shared ownership and retirement living.
The proposals are for 80% of the additional homes to be affordable, with a number of retirement living properties for market sale.
Geeta Nanda, chief executive of Metropolitan Thames Valley, said: “We are delighted that the majority of residents voted ‘yes’ and put their trust in us to place them at the heart of our proposals for the renewal of their estate. We have secured not only their consent, but their input, too, following extensive consultation.”
Dan Thomas, assets, regeneration and growth committee chair at Barnet Council, said: “Local residents have given a resounding seal of approval for the regeneration of Westhorpe Gardens and Mills Grove Estate. We always listen to the views of our residents.”
James Murray, deputy mayor for housing and residential development at the Greater London Authority, said: “The mayor wants Londoners who live on estates to have a real say when regeneration is planned for where they live, which is why he has put ballots at the heart of his approach to estate regeneration.”
