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An introduction to the rehousing process

In February 2004 Southwark Council adopted a masterplan for the regeneration of Elephant and Castle. The plan proposes a major new town centre for south London, containing new commercial and leisure facilities, an updated transport interchange and 5,300 new homes. Demolition of Heygate Estate is an essential part of this masterplan and rehousing Heygate residents into quality new homes in the local area is the first priority.

The first stage of the Heygate rehousing process has already started. The Heygate regeneration team began visits to every tenant on the estate in autumn 2004. The purpose of this visit was to enable the council to make an initial assessment of tenants’ housing needs, and to give tenants the opportunity to ask questions about the various rehousing options.

In August 2005, the council selected housing association partners to build and manage new homes for Heygate residents around Elephant and Castle, and planning applications will soon be prepared for the rehousing sites. The first new replacement homes for Heygate tenants in Wansey Street SE17 was completed in summer 2006.

Why is the Heygate Estate being redeveloped?
Like much of the social housing in Southwark and throughout England, Heygate Estate was designed in the 1960s when builders and planners had very different ideas about what made good social housing. It now falls far short of the government's 'decent homes' standard and needs massive investment to meet modern day standards of heating, accessibility and security.

Building new homes for all Heygate Estate tenants is a less expensive and far better option, and the wider regeneration of Elephant and Castle offers an opportunity to carry this out now.

Where will Heygate residents be rehoused?
The council will be working with its housing association partners to build 1,000 new homes for Heygate tenants on 16 different sites grouped into four areas around Elephant and Castle.  Every Heygate tenant who wants to move to a new housing association home will be able to, and they can also exercise choice as to where this home will be located and even what fittings and finishes the homes will have. Some residents may prefer to remain tenants of the council, and this option is also available.

The two rehousing options for Heygate residents are:

• To be rehoused permanently to a new housing association property: Residents can choose one of fourteen locations from four main groups of sites located around Elephant and Castle.
• To be rehoused permanently within existing council stock to an area of choice within the borough.

Southwark Council's executive committee agreed a policy for Heygate Estate in May 2004. The policy requires that sufficient replacement properties be provided to rehouse Heygate tenants, because everyone will be required to move. The main aspects of the policy are:

• The two housing association consortia selected by the council will build 1,000 new homes. Assessment of the housing needs of tenants will inform the size and type of new properties to be built, and will ensure there are sufficient properties to rehouse all tenants who select this option. 
• All tenants will be asked to decide which rehousing route they would like to follow: either moving to a new housing association property, or to existing council housing within the borough. Unless there are significant changes in someone’s personal circumstances this decision will be binding, so that the council can plan ahead for everybody, 
• Tenants who wish to remain council tenants will be offered alternative accommodation within an existing council property.
• In certain circumstances, tenants currently under-occupying their property and who are not in rent arrears may be offered an extra bedroom over their assessed housing needs. This will apply to both the new housing association and the existing council option and will be subject to resources being available.

More information can be found at http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/RegenerationSection/heygate/