Havering Regeneration Update 2021

Homes for local people Regeneration in Havering

Introduction Our regeneration projects will not only create new, high quality affordable homes for local people, but will also deliver a borough-wide legacy through our investment in education, training and skills, this is known as ‘social value’.

Working in partnership with a joint venture partner also means we bring in the valuable experience of a developer whilst being able to shape the design of new communities ourselves. It means certainty of delivery of new homes with sites being built rather than stalled to increase future developer’s profits.

We are working with the community to build homes that put local people first and will help to create an exciting new chapter in the borough’s history, for the benefit of all who live and work here.

We’re not building these homes in isolation either. Each have the infrastructure available to support these developments, including schools, health, leisure, connectivity (roads and transport) and green open spaces etc to ensure residents are proud of the places where they live.

What is social value?

Social value means taking into account the wider economic, social and environmental effects than just home building. It is the umbrella term for the things that add even greater value to our communities. It represents the longer-term support and wellbeing for our residents and communities.

The social value benefits gained from regeneration will create better lives for local people through training, skills and employment. For example, we have been working with young unemployed adults in Havering to provide specialist training to help boost their employment prospects, with the Wates Residential ‘Building Futures’ programme.

We’re often asked the same questions at engagement events, or on social media.

These are some of the popular questions:

Who are these homes for?

To be able to access permanent social housing in Havering, our Allocations Policy requires that a person or family has lived in Havering for a minimum of 6 years, so we know these homes are for local people.

As part of the 12 Estates Joint Venture with Wates Residential, the right to return is guaranteed to every existing resident on the estates being regenerated. Any housing that requires rebuilding will be done on a like-forlike basis to ensure no loss of existing affordable housing.

The financing of the new affordable homes is helped through the homes we sell on the open market. Even these

homes will be targeted to local people first.

A percentage of the low cost homes ownership homes will also be targeted at the children of Havering residents and local key workers, to help them get on the housing ladder.

Partnership arrangements with Mercury Land Housing, the Council’s housing development company, will deliver private sector rented properties, also targeted at local residents.

Your questions answered Where are you redeveloping?

We have several projects underway across the borough, some of these are:

Rainham and Beam Park Bridge Close

Providing new, modern homes in Romford, with up to 50% being affordable, the new development will also include some community space, a medical centre, a 3-form entry primary school, commercial space, improvements to local landscaping, revitalising the River Rom and improved access through Romford for pedestrians and cyclists.

Havering Council is working in partnership with Notting Hill Genesis to build around 900 homes in the south of the borough as part of the new ‘Beam Park Community’. As part of the regeneration of this area we will also be making fantastic improvements to the A1306 through highway improvements.

These changes will promote walking and cycling and create a greened space known as the ‘linear park’.

12 Estates

The largest social housing project in London and our joint venture with Wates Residential. This £1.2 billion project will see 12 council estates regenerated to provide approximately 3,500 new homes in the borough over the next 12 years.

This will result in the number of Council rented homes on those sites doubling. Together with the development of new shared ownership homes; the total amount of affordable homes will be tripled compared to the previous number of homes.

The first phase of the 12 Estates programme includes:

•N apier and New Plymouth Houses, in Rainham, where the build is well underway and the 197 homes will all be available for social housing in Winter 2022.

•S olar, Serena and Sunrise Court, in South Hornchurch, will be breaking ground in September to build the borough’s first retirement village, which will allow older people to live quality lives, and remain independent for longer.

•A t Waterloo and Queen Street, in the heart of Romford, plans were approved by Havering Council’s Strategic Planning Committee in June 2021, to bring the creation of an exciting new community one step closer for local people. Demolition is currently taking place with construction to start in 2022.

Work is also starting on the second phase:

•F arnham and Hilldene – our investment into the regeneration of the district shopping centre will bring forward around 540 new modern homes replacing the existing 117 poor quality flats , updated shopping facilities as well as improved landscaping and a new medical centre. The Council are delivering the Farnham and Hilldene scheme directly.

•C hippenham Road – the regeneration of the former housing office site will create around 200 high quality homes fit for the future, this scheme will be delivered through our joint venture partnership with Wates Residential.

•A bercrombie House – this hostel accommodation will be redeveloped by the Council to provide modern, state of the art, emergency family accommodation.

What are the benefits?

•T rebling the number of affordable homes.

The amount of affordable rented housing on the 12 estates project will be doubled and with the low cost ownership also provided increasing the overall amount of affordable housing threefold, delivering much-needed homes for borough residents that are truly affordable on local income levels.

• High quality homes for local people and future generations: Our homes are built to a high standard, with the demands of modern life in mind. We are designing homes that enable home working or a space for children to do their homework and have infrastructure for fast broadband.

• Through our regeneration programme, we also making sure that communities have all they need to live well including GP surgeries, schools, community spaces.

• Spacious, safe, low maintenance and energy efficient homes.

• New safe and welcoming neighbourhoods.

• A focus on bio-diversity and ecology.

• New open spaces and play areas.

But, we’re not stopping there: • Buying British and prioritising local companies It is also about prioritising buying British and giving local businesses contracts through a local supply chain. For example, 93% of the £33m build contract value for Napier and New Plymouth, Rainham went to UK companies.

Over 60% of that has been delivered via the local supply chain meaning just under £20m has been paid to local businesses.

• Reducing homelessness More council rented homes mean those who approach the council as homeless will be able to find permanent council housing quicker, spending less time in temporary accommodation some of which may be out of borough or away from support networks.

• Helping in other ways – skills, training and jobs We have built into each of our joint ventures a demand for social value. Social value represents all the ways that the schemes can support local people and the local economy. This includes offering apprenticeships, training, and employment but it also includes more holistic projects like supporting community groups to deliver their services. As an example, our Joint Venture partner on 12 Estates, Wates Residential, has invested money to set up a long covid recovery programme that Havering residents suffering from the impacts of long covid can access for free.

• Making use of the sites for the community We want to maximise the use of the sites for the community until the building work starts, This is called ‘meanwhile use’ and is a large part of our schemes – to maximise the use of the sites for the community. This includes the upcoming Cottons park consultation, for example, to make sure we’re listening to the ideas from the community.

Your questions answered What about all the services that are needed alongside these new homes?

We’re not developing these homes in isolation.

Throughout the process we regularly talk to the residents affected, and the neighbours to the proposed scheme too, because it’s important that we take their ideas and any concerns into consideration.

Infrastructure is vital for these communities to thrive so they are fit for purpose and fit for the future. Built into every scheme are all the considerations you would hope for – schools, GPs surgeries, play areas and green spaces.

And if the past 16 months have taught us anything, it’s that we need homes to have the space and technology to support working from home too, which we’re ensuring they have.

Are these homes just for investors to buy?

No. Aside from the planning authority requirements which means any developer must provide a minimum percentage of homes for affordable rent, which is tied into the Greater London Authority (GLA) Local Plan projections, our joint venture with partner Wates Residential, will deliver London’s biggest social housing project here in Havering. These homes are for local people and will be affordable to local people at local wages levels.

We will endeavour to utilise any suitable Help to Buy schemes (or similar) to ensure local people can access our new private homes for sale and take advantage of government initiatives.

And even the properties for sale will be marketed to local people first.

These bold plans will help to meet the demand for social housing dramatically, delivering much-needed homes for borough residents that are truly affordable on local income levels and helping to secure homes for local people, as well as future generations.

Why are you knocking down estates?

Havering Council is committed to providing high quality homes for Havering residents. Where appropriate, we are looking at demolishing old housing blocks and estates that aren’t suitable for modern living and replacing them with homes for local people that are fit for future generations.

How can I be added to the housing list?

To check your eligibility for council housing, please visit www.havering.gov.uk/info/20001/housing/289/apply_ for_council_housing

Why are you telling us this?

It is important to us that the regeneration we are bringing to the borough is right for us all. We want to protect our heritage and make sure that any scheme we are working on meet the local needs. That is why we are developing masterplans – to help shape the redevelopment of Romford and the other municipal town centres.

Alongside the statutory consultation that we do as part of each regeneration scheme, we also are doing our best to listen to our neighbours about their concerns. For the 12 Estates Join Venture regeneration programme with Wates residential, this has recently meant:

Waterloo and Queen Street • softening the appearance of the blue hoarding, by ordering ivy hoarding to make this more attractive for neighbours.

• replacing some of our neighbours old damaged fences at the bottom of their garden to ensure properties remain safe and secure.

• welcoming some of our neighbours onsite who have popped down to have a chat.

Napier and New Plymouth • undertaking improvements to the playground of La Salette school.

• replacing broken paving slabs in Dunedin Road.

• working with local residents to donate food, clothes and toiletries to both Hope for Havering and Rainham foodbank • working with the police to identify where we can supply extra lighting and CCTV to cover Dunedin Road and the cycle path adjacent • creating a new ‘pit lane’ in New Road to avoid delivery vehicles to the site having to use Dunedin Road.

Solar, Serena and Sunrise Court • providing access through the site for a neighbour to lay new lawn in their garden • working with PETRA to support updating access control to the adjacent flats • providing an Ambulance bay in front of site entrance to aid PETRA residents.

Want to find out more?

If you have any further questions, please email: regeneration@havering.gov.uk To stay up to date about regeneration in the borough please visit: www.havering.gov.uk/regeneration You can also sign up to Living in Havering enewsletter for regular updates about the borough at: www.havering.gov.uk/enews