£130m for new homes and safer streets on London estate

A council estate in London is set for a significant makeover, as £130m of council funding has been earmarked to revitalise the area.

New council homes, new community facilities and safer streets will be created on the Broadwater Farm estate in Tottenham.

The planning committee at Haringey Council agreed to plans for 294 homes to be built on the site, as well as the relocation and restoration of a Grade II listed mosaic mural on the Tangmere Block.

A new health and wellbeing hub, grocery shop, affordable workspaces, and green and open spaces will also be developed, as well as an enterprise centre for jobs and training opportunities.

The proposals, which have been formed in partnership with community groups and key stakeholders, have significant support from residents, as 85% voted in favour of the plans in a vote in March.

Cllr Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council said: ‘I’m delighted that our plans to improve the lives of Broadwater Farm residents by delivering high quality, safe and genuinely affordable homes have been given the go-ahead.   I’m immensely proud of the schemes we are undertaking to deliver a new generation of council homes and this redevelopment is a worthy addition and an exciting time for the estate.’

She added: ‘Much of that has been down to the community because this was a resident-led, placemaking proposal.  We will continue working together to shape the future of the neighbourhood, ensuring residents are the ones that benefit most from the opportunities the redevelopment will bring.’

More than 600 jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities will be created by the project, with residents able to get council support to ensure they have the right skills for the job.

35% of the new council homes being built on site will be 3–4-bedroom sized family homes, to keep up with the demand for larger houses on the estate.

However, Resident’s Association Secretary for Broadwater Farm, Jacob Secker, said this was ‘a huge drop’ from previous targets, as the council had initially agreed on 55%.

He also criticised Haringey Council’s decision to demolish the existing health centre, as he said it would result in a much smaller hub.

Tangmere Block is currently in the process of being demolished, with construction on the first homes set to begin in 2023.

Photo provided by Haringey Council