Local pressure group and MP still remain critical of lack of social housing


Artists impression

The deadline is approaching for comments on the Council's revised planning proposal for the regeneration of the Alton estate which the Council claimed will accelerate the delivery of new homes and provide a greater mix of social and private housing.

Following a statutory planning consultation last summer over 500 people 500 local people signed a petition to ask for a better deal from the Alton Estate Regeneration, and the Council with Redrow Homes produced amended plans which the believed would 'address the issues raised and accelerates the delivery of affordable housing'.

The deadline to comment on the latest proposal is 1st July 2020 (amended) .

On release the Council stated that additional key amendments included:
• Greater provision of private and shared ownership units
• Block A (delivery 2022) will now provide more council homes
• Block O (delivery 2022) will now be a mixture of new homes for council tenants and resident leaseholders
• Block Q2 (delivery 2026) will now be completely shared ownership
• Revisions to landscape drawings to retain trees



Council leader Ravi Govindia, pictured above, said: “This hugely ambitious regeneration scheme is designed to deliver more than just new homes. It aims to re-energise Roehampton and provide state-of-the-art community facilities to benefit everyone who lives in this part of the borough.

“These community benefits would include a new village square and multi-purpose community building to host the new Roehampton Library, a modern health centre, spaces to rehouse the BASE Youth Club, and a new community hall. The retail area will include a convenience food store and a range of new and replacement shop units. New workspace accommodation would also be provided with units set aside as affordable for small businesses and the voluntary sector. Additionally, a new community hub within the Parkland Quarter would host the new Eastwood Nursery School Centre for Children & Families, alongside health, retail and residents’ facilities.

“We are committing to an increased number of affordable homes, across all tenures including additional homes offered for social rent and for low cost shared ownership. Work is already underway on building the first phase of these new homes and shows our commitment to providing vastly improving living conditions for our Roehampton residents.”



MP for for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, Fleur Anderson, pictured above, believes these amendments have not gone far enough in the areas of affordable housing and youth services and spaces. She told this website: "The Council are missing a golden opportunity to build desperately needed more homes for local people.

"Last summer local people had their day on the regeneration plans and as a result the Council has to look again. Now it’s really important that everyone says what they think about the new plans. I’m pleased that some trees have been saved, some affordable housing moved from the edges to the centre, and there is better family friendly design for the flats and landscaping. But overall I am shocked to see no increase in just 24% of the space allocated for council and affordable homes. This estate is on council land and needs to stay a mixed community. All Wandsworth residents should get involved in this consultation by July 1st. The Council and Redrow need to urgently think again."

Ms Anderson is holding three virtual meetings at which you can hear what other people think
and have your say. Email fleur.anderson.mp@parliament.uk with the date you wish to 'attend' and instructions for joining online will be emailed to you - the dates are:
Monday 8th June 10am – 11am
Wednesday 10th June 7pm – 8pm
Friday 12th June 1pm – 2pm

Local pressure group Alton Regeneration Watch also believes that not enough is being done for the provision of Council housing, a spokesperson told PutneySW15.com: "The plans do not offer enough of an increase in council housing to justify the disruption, pollution and overcrowding that they will cause. Only 43 new council homes will be created. Most new residents will be private. The influx of over a thousand new people will put immense strain on local transport and services, and rob the Alton Estate of its character.

" One of the reasons the Mayor of London vetoed the original plans was that council housing was not integrated with private housing. The separation is ominous, because in regenerations elsewhere having segregated blocks has led to the council properties being built to a lower standard than the private ones, and being given access to fewer facilities. The new plans reshuffle blocks slightly, but keep council housing separated from private. This is a stubborn defiance of the Mayor’s demands. We predict that he will be forced to call in and take over this project."

What do you need to know more about? What do you like? What don’t you like?

You can find out more about the plans by calling Janet Ferguson in the Council and asking her about anything in the plans and asking for the relevant planning documents to be sent to you. Call 020 8871 7959 or email planningapplications@wandsworth.gov.uk.

You can also see the plans on the website: www.altonestateregen.co.uk there is a FAQ page on the amended proposals and a guide summarising the revisions.

You can put your comments on the application on the planning portal.

You have until 1st July (amended) to let the Council know.


www.altonestateregen.co.uk

June 3, 2020