Residents on the Carpenters Estate will have their say on different options for the estate’s restoration as they reach a key milestone with the council.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz committed to putting Carpenters residents at the heart of any restoration plans when she came into office in May 2018. With this in mind, she brought an end to the joint venture process started under the previous administration. The Mayor has also committed to ensuring any future proposals must include a minimum of 50 per cent genuine affordable housing and that a Resident Ballot takes place.
Mayor Fiaz said: “Last November we promised the restoration of Carpenters through meaningful co-design with residents. It was clear they had badly let down in the past and that’s why I’ve been meeting with them regularly so that they are kept updated on progress and always involved in plans. We’ve also taken immediate action to improve their day-to-day living experience on the estate.
“The skills, knowledge and experience of our residents living on the Carpenters Estate has been invaluable as they help us shape options to restore this much loved and historically important neighbourhood which will provide homes we can be proud and need.”
Options for the estate were developed over the summer by residents who attended a number of workshops; and all residents living on the Carpenters Estate were invited to attend, including those who have moved away but have the Right to Return.
Two final workshops are being held on 23 and 30 October to conclude phase one of the Carpenters Estate restoration plans, where residents will be able to see how they’ve shaped the original proposals presented by architects and what’s been updated as a result of their input.
Feedback from the final workshops will be presented in a report to the council’s Cabinet which will set out which option, or options, should be developed further; and will help shape the planned Resident Ballot which will then kick-start the long-awaited restoration of the estate.
Discussions with residents will also continue over the coming months to update the 2012 Carpenters Residents’ Charter, and pull together all the information to help residents to make an informed decision on the future of their estate when it comes to the Resident Ballot.