Hounslow residents support regeneration of their estate

Residents in Hounslow have voted in favour of a major regeneration of homes in the borough.

Charlton House, Albany House/Albany Parade residents voted 87 per cent in favour of a Hounslow Council programme to regenerate its estates and help deliver 5,000 affordable homes in the borough by 2022.

The programme is expected to deliver approx. 200 high-quality, energy efficient, new council housing for residents, who will play a leading role in shaping the proposals.

The programme is being guided by comprehensive assessments of the council’s 171 estates, designed to identify those that will need to be updated over the next 20 years. The scheme’s aspiration is to provide 50 per cent of homes at council rent levels, subject to viability. All current secure tenants and resident leaseholders will have the right to return.

Cllr Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council said: “This is an overwhelming ‘yes’ to our regeneration plans for Charlton House, Albany House/Albany Parade.

“It’s a fantastic result for the residents and the borough. The council embarked on its estate regeneration journey early last year, just before the pandemic which then made the journey more challenging, as we were not able to engage and consult with residents in ways that we normally would.

“However, the results are evidence that we truly worked in partnership with our residents. The result also represents a major milestone in not only delivering brand new council homes but also the first regeneration of a council estate in many years.

“This is an exciting time for residents who have given their clear support for an improved neighbourhood. We are committed to building new council homes, and the proposed 200 new homes as part of this scheme will go a long way to meeting the needs of local people.

“I look forward to working with the residents and tenants to make this happen, we are also committed to providing new shops and open spaces”.

Dave Cox, chair of the Charlton House Residents Association said: “The ‘yes’ vote is a vote for a brighter future. As residents, we know what the inherent problems are with the buildings, which will continue no matter how much money is thrown at them.

“The regeneration will give us a chance to live in up-to-date homes. The council, in its offer, has committed to fully supporting residents throughout the regeneration and into their new homes.”

Last summer the council held a series of open-air workshops to identify residents’ priorities and aspirations for their homes and community.

More than two-thirds of residents attended and feedback was used to create initial designs.

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