Majority say yes to pulling down Bemerton estate

Published: 4th March, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

PLANS to demolish one of the borough’s most troubled estates have come under fire from housing campaigners.

Dr Brian Potter, chairman of the borough’s tenants and leaseholder groups, spoke out following a vote in which the majority of residents on the Bemerton estate in Barnsbury, off the Caledonian Road, who voted called for the dwellings to be pulled down and rebuilt.

With its secluded walkways which attract crime, and faded outlook, Islington Council has always expressed an interest in demolishing the estate which provides high and low-rise homes for around 800 residents.

A public consultation offered tenants and leaseholders three options:

• Leave the estate as it is and just improve the open spaces.
• Demolish and rebuild selected parts of the estate.
• Or demolish the estate completely in stages and rebuild it to a better design.

The result of the ballot was 58 per cent of residents were in favour of demolition with 38 per cent against – it means that the council are expected to put out tenders for the work within months.

But Dr Potter has raised concerns with the Town Hall over what will happen to the residents over the two years when the work is carried out.

“There is no guarantee that tenants will be rehoused in the borough,” he said. “They will have to go where they are sent. But how far? We need to know. People’s jobs are at stake.”

He believes that leaseholders who have spent thousands of pounds on their property could be the worst hit.

“They will have to sell their homes to the council and accept the valuation or be compulsory purchased,” said Dr Potter. “Then they will need to find rented accommodation or new homes at the right price.

“If they want to buy homes on the new Bemerton estate they will probably be charged a fortune.”  

Dr Potter said that while the residents are under the council they are covered by security of tenure with protection under act of parliament.

But he warned: “If they come out and go into a housing association – which I think is likely – then they will have an assured tenancy which means they are only protected under contract law. They will have fewer rights.”

A drop-in advice bureau is being held next Tuesday and Wednesday between 3pm and 7pm at the Jean Stokes community hall on the estate to discuss all these issues.

A council spokesman said that all existing tenants would be offered new homes on the estate with retained security of tenancy, leaseholders would be fairly compensated and that discussions on rehousing would be held with tenants before demolition.

The spokesman said: “Any tenants required to move would be entitled to financial assistance.”

The council would also work with leaseholders to find the best solution.

“As a minimum the council would offer to purchase the property at the market value,” the spokesman added.