Central Hill estate photo courtesy of Architects for Social Housing
LAMBETH HOUSING SCANDAL – FIVE: A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Among other comments made at the meeting:
“There’s minimal crime on our estate. “The only problem we’ve got is that the estate is in such a bad condition” – Nicola Curtis, Central Hill residents association.
“Estates we’ve worked on have a lower crime rate than the surrounding areas outside” – Simon Elmer, ASH
(Further reading: Internet – ukcrimestats.com; Police.UK – Crime on or near Central Hill)
On the PRP alleyway image (see Cllr Bennett’s response to The Observer article): “The residents I’ve spoken to were pretty angry about this. “When you go into consultation you should go in with an open mind – not a fixed objective” – Simon Elmer, ASH
Image from Cllr Bennett’s article
“Mould is not a justification to knock down the entire estate. “It’s justification for the owner of that flat to take Lambeth council to court.
“I’m sure there’s a legal case that Lambeth council are remiss in not keeping homes up to health standards. “So why are Lambeth so eager to represent the estate in this way?” – Simon Elmer ASH
ARCHITECTS FOR SOCIAL HOUSING – MANIFESTO
Architects for Social Housing (ASH) has been set up in order to respond architecturally to London’s housing ‘crisis’.
We are a working collective of architects, urban designers, surveyors, engineers, planners, building industry consultants, academics, photographers, web designers, writers, housing campaigners and activists operating with developing ideas under set principles.
First among these is the conviction that infill, build-over and refurbishment are more sustainable solutions to London’s housing needs than the demolition of the city’s council estates, enabling, as it does, the continued existence of the communities they house.
ASH offers support, advice and expertise to residents who feel their interests are not being represented by local councils or housing associations during the regeneration process.
Our primary responsibility is to existing residents – tenants and leaseholders alike; but we are also committed to finding viable alternatives to developer-led regeneration – alternatives that are in the interests of the wider London community.