Ballot of residents on Tottenham estate agreed by Haringey Council, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter People living on an estate earmarked for demolition under a regeneration scheme will be given a vote on rehousing plans. Haringey Council’s cabinet have agreed to hold a residents’ ballot on proposals for the 2,600-home High Road West scheme […]By Local Democracy Reporting Service

Ballot of residents on Tottenham estate agreed by Haringey Council, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

People living on an estate earmarked for demolition under a regeneration scheme will be given a vote on rehousing plans.

Haringey Council’s cabinet have agreed to hold a residents’ ballot on proposals for the 2,600-home High Road West scheme in Tottenham.

People living on Love Lane Estate, which is due to be knocked down and replaced by new homes, will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the council’s offer of rehousing in a ballot held during the summer. If a majority vote yes, the regeneration scheme will be allowed to go ahead.

The decision on whether to hold the ballot was originally due to be made in May but was delayed after a change in the council’s leadership. It was finally given the go-ahead by cabinet members on Tuesday, 13th July, under new leader Peray Ahmet.

Ruth Gordon, cabinet member for housebuilding, placemaking and development, told the meeting: “The primary focus of the council is to keep the community together. That obviously includes the tenants in temporary accommodation, as well as the secure accommodation. We think this offer is able to do that.

“The offer is very clear on its promise that temporary accommodation and secure tenants will be offered a new home on the developed estate.”

The High Road West regeneration deal was agreed between Haringey Council and developer Lendlease in 2017.

In March this year, the council announced it had secured £91million from the government and Mayor of London to triple the number of council-rent homes on the High Road West scheme to 500 and boost the affordable housing level to 40%.

The funding will allow the council to rehouse all secure and non-secure tenants on Love Lane Estate, as well as 250 households with the highest priority on the wider housing register, according to the cabinet report.

It adds that if any tenants need to move off the estate because of the phasing of the construction process or to alleviate housing issues, they will still be eligible for a new council home in the High Road West development.

The cabinet papers also include a pledge to cap rents on the scheme for eligible residents within the High Road West area at 10% above the average rent residents are paying for an equivalent size property on Love Lane Estate at the time of their move. Under rents set using a government formula, they could have faced rent hikes of up to 50%.

David Joyce, the council’s director of housing, regeneration and planning, told the meeting the rent increases would be offset by savings on energy bills in the new homes. He said the council was confident people would not be worse off as a result of the move.

Cllr Gordon said the council would continue to visit Love Lane Estate “to make sure every single resident understands what is in the offer”. Her report was unanimously agreed by cabinet members.

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