The Haringey Council plans to allow residents who were moved out of a property in Tottenham due to security fears to vote on its regeneration.
Ruth Gordon, Cabinet member in charge of housing, said the council always intended that tenants and tenants who were moved out of blocks on Broadwater Farm Estate and have the right to return would be able to vote. .
The Tangmere and Northolt blocks on the estate had to be evacuated after the discovery in 2018 of structural defects that could put the buildings in danger of collapsing. The municipality plans to overturn the uncertain blocks, which can be dated back to the 1970s, and build up to 295 new homes as part of a renewal plan.
Earlier this month, cabinet members agreed to vote residents on the plans. But the Broadwater Farm Residents’ Association and campaign group Haringey Defend Council Housing warned those who had been evicted from the property and have the right to return may not be able to vote under London mayor’s policies on property regeneration votes.
In response, Cllr Gordon, who is a cabinet member for house building, placemaking and development, denied that city council members had only voted to vote for current Broadwater Farm real estate residents.
She said: “I have been aware 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 tenants currently living on the estate, will be able to vote in the ballot paper. ”
Campaigns also raised concerns about the wording of the proposed ballot question, which asks whether residents “agree with the design proposals for new town halls on the Broadwater Farm property”. They want the issue to be extended to include the proposed rental levels for the new homes, which can be up to 10% higher than the average rent on the current property.
Jacob Secker, secretary of the Broadwater Farm Residents’ Association, has said the new homes would be unaffordable for some local residents, claiming 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’s offer – a document designed to allow residents to make an informed decision about the future of their property.
She added: “The introduction to the question will make it clear that residents should refer to the landlord’s offer before voting in the ballot paper. This comprehensive document describes all the information residents need about rentals, the rehousing strategy and the benefits of the scheme before submitting their voice. ”
Cllr Gordon said Broadwater Farm would benefit from £ 100 million in investments to renovate existing homes, improve public space and the environment and provide new premises and jobs.
She added: “Our plans to transform the property have also been developed through extensive engagement with both the local community and the former residents of Tangmere and Northolt, who will have the priority of returning to a new home once built.”