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Heseltine names estate regeneration squad

Lord Heseltine’s 17-strong panel brought together to look at how to regenerate England’s sink estate was named today.

The group, co-chaired by Lord Heseltine and Housing Minister Brandon Lewis and reporting to the Prime Minister and Communities Secretary Greg Clark, will develop a national estate regeneration strategy and work with up to 100 estates to tackle deprivation and transform them into vibrant communities.

The Prime Minister announced last month that £140 million would be made available to jump-start the regeneration. The loan funding will allow communities to lever in investment from the public and private sector to deliver ambitious projects that local people can be proud of.

Lord Heseltine said: "Estates regeneration is key to transforming the lives of people living on poorly designed housing projects. The panel will provide expert advice, support and explore innovative funding solutions to drive forward the regeneration of estates around the country.

However, I am clear that this has to be locally led and we must work with the residents of such estates. I now want to see local communities coming forward with innovative ideas to achieve desirable neighbourhoods that local people can be proud of. "

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: "This panel provides a wealth of experience to kick-start work that will help transform the lives of thousands of people by delivering better homes in better estates.

The panel met at the York Road Estate in Battersea, London where plans are being developed for a major regeneration scheme.

Future meetings will be held at estates across the country. Members are:

• Councillor Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council

•Nicholas Boys Smith, director of Create Streets, a social enterprise and independent research institute which pushes for well designed estates

•Andrew Boff, leader of the Greater London Authority Conservatives housing group

•Elaine Bailey, chief executive, from Hyde Housing Association, which successfully regenerated the Packington Estate in Islington

•Paul Tennant, chief executive from Orbit Housing Association, which successfully regenerated Erith Estate in Bexley

•Tony Pidgley, chief executive of Berkeley Homes - a lead partner on various estate regenerations across London

•Peter Vernon, chief executive of Grosvenor Estates

•Jane Duncan, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

•Ben Bolgar, director of Design Theory and Networks at the Prince’s Foundation

•Dominic Grace, head of London Residential Development at estates agents Savills

•Emma Cariaga from the British Land and Thames Valley Housing Association

•David Budd, Mayor of Middlesbrough

•Natalie Elphicke, chief executive of the Housing & Finance Institute

•Graham Allen, MP for Nottingham North

•Felicie Krikler, associate director at Assael Architecture

The group will now work with a range of local stakeholders, including communities, local authorities, landlords, investors, builders, housing associations, and anyone else with ideas and ambition. It will draw up the national strategy for estate regeneration by the autumn. 

Comments

Not a single actual, real, 'ordinary' resident of an estate in among all these appointed Great and Good? Another delphian process of approval and appointment in the Great British regeneration tradition? Somehow one might sense another likely serious of impending failures on engagement participation and therefore 'regeneration' outcomes.