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Tackling overcrowding a priority
• COUNCILLOR Guthrie McKie’s comments about Westminster City Council’s housing renewal plans simply have no substance (New ‘masterplan’ for housing, November 6).
He alleges there is nothing in our recently published renewal strategy about helping families living in overcrowded conditions before going on to claim that we are dabbling in “social engineering”.
As he well knows, both of these claims are baseless and couldn’t be further from the truth.
For the record, our plans – which are freely available to the public to read on the council’s webs – clearly state the new housing programme presents an opportunity to remodel and rebuild homes on estates so there are more better designed family-sized homes for Westminster.
As well as benefiting existing residents, the strategy aims to build mixed communities by increasing housing opportunities for those on low to middle incomes and providing opportunities for local workers to live in the city.
Tackling overcrowding is already a council priority and we have rehoused over half of our most overcrowded families this year while 1,000 overcrowded families will be offered larger homes within the next five years. This strategy will help deliver homes to achieve this goal. Our strategy is focusing on four areas – the Church Street neighbourhood and the Brunel, Tollgate and Ebury Bridge estates.
We aim to do better for the people who live here so that not only their physical environment improves but the life prospects of everyone who lives in these areas are enhanced.
We have also pledged to increase the number of affordable rented homes in Westminster, provide a better range of community and retail facilities, improve open spaces and deliver more affordable housing options for local workers, and to also create a more distinct sense of neighbourhood.
However, to do this and get it right we need input from residents, businesses and other key organisations and individuals.
We want residents to be involved from the outset, shaping, and helping to direct this programme of renewal and over the coming weeks people will be asked for their views.
Our aim is to ensure the final strategy reflects best practice, is what the residents want, and will genuinely enhance local business opportunities and create more homes and jobs for local people.
We do, however, realise that any ambitious strategy can inevitably lead to uncertainty among existing residents.
This is why we are including a 10-point commitment as part of these plans and we will also be looking to develop specific neighbourhood charters with residents in the areas directly affected.
This programme is far more than a short-term fix and is part of our commitment to improve the lives of people in Westminster by giving our local people real choice and significantly improving opportunities – in housing, education and employment.
Cllr Philippa Roe
Cabinet Member for Housing
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