Cabinet approves £10m investment for council estates
An extra £10m has been set aside in the Council's housing budget (Housing Revenue Account) to improve council estates in Havering.
The plans were approved by Havering Council's Cabinet at a meeting last night (Tuesday 9 July 2019).
The extra money will focus on the safety, look and feel of council estates, enhancing buildings and communal areas, so that residents will have an environment that they can be proud of and want to spend time in.
Each of the 47 estates will be scored against a set of criteria, using Council, crime, and investment data, along with 'on the ground' scores from Havering Council staff to decide on improvements.
Before any work begins, residents at estates targeted for improvements will also be invited to a series of roadshow workshops with a Cabinet member, where they will be told about the planned programme and given the opportunity to ask questions, present ideas and share feedback on how the money could be best spent.
The programme of works will include improvements to safety by upgrading and installing new fencing, providing better external and communal lighting, and upgrading door entry systems to help restrict unauthorised access.
Estates are also set to benefit from a range of cosmetic improvements including the decoration of building exteriors, repainting of internal communal areas, landscaping in communal areas with upgrades to pathways, and improving accessibility through installing ramps and widening entrances.
Refuse disposal areas may also be re-arranged to ensure they are not an eyesore, and parking improvements will be considered where possible.
Councillor Damian White, Leader of Havering Council, said:
"I'm thrilled to be launching the estates improvement programme which will improve the lives of Council residents and communities.
"Whilst it is important to build new homes for our residents, we want to ensure that we are also investing in our existing estates. That is why this £10m estates improvement programme will focus on the estates not earmarked for wider regeneration.
"We want to make sure that all of our tenants live in a place they feel safe, happy and proud to call home."