Housing Regeneration and Development – Renewing the Legacy in
Kensington and Chelsea
In 2011 the Council concluded a Housing Stock Options
Review to secure the future of funding of its housing stock and
services. This led to us look into the potential to regenerate some
areas of the Royal Borough, to renew the legacy of high quality
buildings in Kensington and Chelsea, and maintain our housing stock
in good order for the future. We are also continuously reviewing
value for money in the services we provide, and how we can be
smarter with the Council’s housing assets.
What is regeneration?
Housing regeneration, sometimes called housing renewal, is
the process of renewing and upgrading the social housing stock in
the Royal Borough. Many of the Council and housing association
homes in the Royal Borough were built several decades ago. They are
beginning to show signs of wear and tear that sometimes cannot just
be repaired.
Where appropriate, plans may be developed for the demolition of
housing blocks or housing estates, to replace them with better
quality, more modern homes that improve the environment and quality
of life for residents. This will be always be done with full
consultation between residents and the Council, to make sure that
the outcomes benefit the whole community.
Sometimes regeneration can mean much smaller scale works too,
finding opportunities to improve the function of our housing, or
increase the amount of housing available by using areas of existing
estates and blocks more creatively.
What’s happening?
New homes
The Council is working with the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant
Management Organisation (KCTMO) to build a small number of new
homes in parts of our estates which are not in use. Works have
started on two estates in the borough:
- redundant space at Homefield House in the north of the borough
is currently being converted into three 3-bedroom flats
- Greaves Tower in the south of the borough, three new 2-bedroom
flats are being developed.
These new flats should be completed by the end of the year.
The Wornington Green Estate, owned by
Kensington Housing Trust, received planning consent from the
Council for a major regeneration in 2010. Building works for
this scheme are now on site and the first new homes will be
delivered in 2013. It will however take 12 years to deliver a major
change to the north end of Portobello Road and Wornington Road,
providing many more homes in the borough, and an opportunity to
improve the local park and play facilities. You can find out more
about this project on the Wornington Green Estate website
(opens link in new window). Further information
is available about the impact of the redevelopment of Wornington
Green on the Venture Centre.
The Silchester Estate is owned by the Council,
and has a row of garages which have been earmarked for
demolition. These will be replaced with new homes,
both rented and shared ownership. After consultation with
residents, the plans have been extended to include the demolition
of a row of existing homes and their replacement with brand new
homes. This means that site that once housed only 14 households
will now house over 100, as well as new retail and business units,
a new community facility and a new access road. The development
will be carried out by the Peabody Trust, a housing
association. We have set up separate Silchester
regeneration pages on this site to provide more detailed
information on what is happening.
The Elkstone Road site in front of Trellick
Tower is currently being used as a temporary coach park.
However we plan to develop the area in the long-term, along with
the disused garage space at the base of Trellick Tower, in order to
invest in and improve the area. A residents’ opinion survey
has been carried out regarding the future of this site, to help
inform the development of plans, and the Council will be involving
residents as plans progress. Find out more on our Trellick and Edenham Way webpage.
The Council is currently reviewing its housing and accommodation
for older people. We want to give people a greater choice
about where they live as they get older and we also need to prepare
for future demands. Consultation on our strategy closed on 10
May 2013.
The Council is also working with Octavia Housing on the
redevelopment of the Kensington Day Centre for
older people. This will provide a brand new community hub,
with lots of activities for older people and a café. Redevelopment
will also create 13 fully accessible one bedroom flats, due for
completion in 2015 and available for rent for people over the age
of 60.
For more information please contact the Housing Strategy and
Regeneration Team, The Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 7NX. Tel:
020 7361 3014