TENANTS’ VOTE HALTS BRUNEL ESTATE REGENERATION

Published: 6th MAy, 2011
by TOM FOOT

CITY Hall dramatically pulled the plug on a flagship multi-million pound regeneration of one of its biggest council estates yesterday (Thursday) after a knife-edge public vote.

Proposals to transform the Brunel estate in Maida Vale have been scrapped after just 77 of 133 tenants (58 per cent) voted to reject the scheme. It houses 1,500 people in 417 homes.

Housing bosses – who had said they would not go ahead with the changes without the support of the public – warned “sceptical” tenants this was a mistake.

It was a “tremendous shame and a missed opportunity”.

Similar public votes are taking place on estates across Westminster.

Just a small number of Brunel households responded to consultation on the regeneration plans, which included new homes, lifts, a park, a community centre and a nursery.

Both Polperro and Landor blocks would have been demolished under the plans and residents feared years of noisy building works and the loss of social housing.

The unusual idea of wedging extra homes into the corners of the estate buildings has also been criticised by tenant leaders.

Gary Toomey, chairman of the Brunel Estate Residents’ Association and estate resident, said: “The majority I’ve spoken to don’t want any work done because they’re quite happy with how the estate is already.” 

In 2009,  Labour MP Karen Buck wrote to CityWest Homes – the private firm that runs Westminster’s council housing – outlining her concerns about the “absolutely filthy” Brunel estate and called for compensation.

Housing bosses said they would not proceed with any redevelopment unless a majority of residents voted in favour of proposals.

Nearby Tollgate Gardens estate in Maida Vale will be completely transformed after 76 per cent of residents voting backed a similar development. 

Residents of the Church Street, Paddington Green and Lisson Grove estates are awaiting results of their vote-for-change style consultation.

Philippa Roe, Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “This is a tremendous shame and a missed opportunity. We have listened to what local people have told us and this is what we will do.

“Some residents may have been sceptical about our ability to deliver but if they change their minds once they see what we will achieve in other renewal areas, we could revisit the Brunel masterplan.”