Barratt Homes’ regeneration (e.g. demolition) of a 1960s council estate in West Hendon is captured in this documentary, although Barratt refused to participate. Definitely worth a watch. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t0ydd/the-estate-were-in
Great local activity for kids and grown-up kids this weekend.
Opposition to the Housing Bill is building. The Chair of KPETRA, Joan Twelves, has written a blog post about it, explaining the devastating effect it could have on residents of Kennington Park Estate. It can be found by clicking here or https://joantwelves.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/the-great-london-clearances/ More actions against the Bill are being planned and details will be posted here.
Good News! Our big gasholder has been granted Grade II listed status. The gasholder is an important part of the Oval and Kennington Development Area (OAKDA), for which Lambeth Council and Berkeley Homes are currently working up the development masterplan. This is what the BBC News website says: The Victorian gasholder that looms over the Oval cricket ground in south London has been granted Grade II status. The wrought-iron structure in Kennington was the largest gasholder in the world when it was built in 1847. Gasholder No. 1 was rebuilt in 1877-79, just before the first Test match in England was played at the Oval in 1880. The historical, architectural and technical background of the gasholder and its importance to the landscape led to it being granted protected status. ‘Iconic backdrop’ Emily Gee, head of designation at government heritage agency Historic England, which recommended the structure for listing, said…
Several Kennington Park Estate residents joined the local south London March against the Housing Bill yesterday. Opposition to the Bill is building. The next big event is on 13 March. More information about the Bill can be found here
Laziness is not a quality that people want to be associated with. That’s why this jab by Zac Goldsmith towards fellow mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan sounded quite effective: http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/14257857.Zac_Goldsmith_brands_Sadiq_Khan__lazy__over_affordable_housing_debate/?ref=rss But it seems that when it really comes to it, yesterday both were too lazy to both show up to a key debate about housing in this city: http://www.theplanner.co.uk/news/mayoral-hustings-on-housing-to-go-ahead-without-khan
Hornby Art Club All ages & families welcome – Wednesday 17 February 11-2.30: Free Hornby Art Club visit for KPE children & families to meet artist in residence Evelyn O’Connor (just for us!) at Beaconsfield Gallery & visit the new Newport Street Gallery. Refreshments provided. Meet Hornby House 11am. Links below: Beaconsfield http://beaconsfield.ltd.uk/projects/evelyn-oconnor-alchemy/ Newport Street Gallery http://www.newportstreetgallery.com/
“This time it is the estates that replaced those Victorian streets that are being destroyed. It turns out that, if some of these estates are as bad as myth has it, others were thoughtfully and beautifully designed, whose problems, if any, are often due to their being poorly looked after by the local authorities who own them.” http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jan/31/council-estates-if-they-arent-broken-lambeth-council-central-hill-estate-social-housing-affordable?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Central Hill is a housing estate in Upper Norwood (Lambeth Council) that has been getting growing coverage in the media, and from groups such as Architects for Social Housing. The controversy surrounding the estate seems, at times, completely at odds to the apparent reality of the estate itself. https://architectsforsocialhousing.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/central-hill-community/ https://architectsforsocialhousing.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/in-defence-of-central-hill/
I have a fundamental problem with the term “sink estate”. I think it is derogatory, unnecessary and undermining. But people insist on still using it. Despite this flaw, I think this article is quite an interesting read: http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/feb/03/demolish-sink-estates-homes-david-cameron-bratislava?CMP=share_btn_tw