Broadwater Farm Estate ballot to include forced-out residents

Haringey Council plans to allow residents who were moved out of a Tottenham estate because of safety fears to vote on its regeneration.

Ruth Gordon, the cabinet member in charge of housing, said the council had always intended that tenants and leaseholders who were moved out of blocks on the Broadwater Farm Estate and have a right to return would be able to take part in the ballot.

The Tangmere and Northolt blocks on the estate had to be vacated following the discovery in 2018 of structural faults that could put the buildings at risk of collapse. The council plans to knock down the unsafe blocks, which date back to the 1970s, and build up to 295 new homes as part of a regeneration scheme.

Earlier this month, cabinet members agreed to ballot residents on the plans. But Broadwater Farm Residents’ Association and campaign group Haringey Defend Council Housing warned those who had been moved off the estate and have the right to return may be unable to vote under Mayor of London policies on estate regeneration ballots.

In response, Cllr Gordon, who is cabinet member for housebuilding, placemaking and development, denied that councillors had voted to ballot current Broadwater Farm estate residents only.

She said: “I have been clear that we will adopt a collaborative approach to redevelopment, and it has always been our intention that eligible former Tangmere and Northolt residents, as well as tenants and leaseholders currently living on the estate, will be able to vote in the ballot.”

Campaigners also raised concerns over the wording of the proposed ballot question, which asks if residents “agree with the design proposal(s) for new council homes on the Broadwater Farm estate”. They want the question to be widened to include the proposed rent levels for the new homes, which could be up to 10% higher than average rents on the current estate.

Jacob Secker, secretary of Broadwater Farm Residents’ Association, has said the new homes would be unaffordable to some local residents, and claimed the proposed increases would “disproportionately affect black people and people from ethnic minorities”.

Cllr Gordon said the ballot question in the cabinet report was “indicative”, and a final wording would be published in the landlord offer – a document designed to allow residents to make an informed decision about the future of their estate.

She added: “The preamble to the question will make it clear that residents should refer to the landlord offer before voting in the ballot. This comprehensive document sets out all the information residents will need on rents, the rehousing strategy and benefits of the scheme before casting their vote.”

Cllr Gordon said Broadwater Farm would benefit from £100million of investment to refurbish existing homes, improve the public realm and environment, and provide new community facilities and employment space.

She added: “Our plans to transform the estate have also been developed through extensive engagement both with the local community and those former residents from Tangmere and Northolt, who will have priority to return to a new home once they are built.”