Barratt Homes’ regeneration (e.g. demolition) of a 1960s council estate in West Hendon is captured in this documentary, although Barratt refused to participate. Definitely worth a watch. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t0ydd/the-estate-were-in
Great local activity for kids and grown-up kids this weekend.
Opposition to the Housing Bill is building. The Chair of KPETRA, Joan Twelves, has written a blog post about it, explaining the devastating effect it could have on residents of Kennington Park Estate. It can be found by clicking here or https://joantwelves.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/the-great-london-clearances/ More actions against the Bill are being planned and details will be posted here.
Laziness is not a quality that people want to be associated with. That’s why this jab by Zac Goldsmith towards fellow mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan sounded quite effective: http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/14257857.Zac_Goldsmith_brands_Sadiq_Khan__lazy__over_affordable_housing_debate/?ref=rss But it seems that when it really comes to it, yesterday both were too lazy to both show up to a key debate about housing in this city: http://www.theplanner.co.uk/news/mayoral-hustings-on-housing-to-go-ahead-without-khan
Hornby Art Club All ages & families welcome – Wednesday 17 February 11-2.30: Free Hornby Art Club visit for KPE children & families to meet artist in residence Evelyn O’Connor (just for us!) at Beaconsfield Gallery & visit the new Newport Street Gallery. Refreshments provided. Meet Hornby House 11am. Links below: Beaconsfield http://beaconsfield.ltd.uk/projects/evelyn-oconnor-alchemy/ Newport Street Gallery http://www.newportstreetgallery.com/
“This time it is the estates that replaced those Victorian streets that are being destroyed. It turns out that, if some of these estates are as bad as myth has it, others were thoughtfully and beautifully designed, whose problems, if any, are often due to their being poorly looked after by the local authorities who own them.” http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/jan/31/council-estates-if-they-arent-broken-lambeth-council-central-hill-estate-social-housing-affordable?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Central Hill is a housing estate in Upper Norwood (Lambeth Council) that has been getting growing coverage in the media, and from groups such as Architects for Social Housing. The controversy surrounding the estate seems, at times, completely at odds to the apparent reality of the estate itself. https://architectsforsocialhousing.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/central-hill-community/ https://architectsforsocialhousing.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/in-defence-of-central-hill/
I have a fundamental problem with the term “sink estate”. I think it is derogatory, unnecessary and undermining. But people insist on still using it. Despite this flaw, I think this article is quite an interesting read: http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/feb/03/demolish-sink-estates-homes-david-cameron-bratislava?CMP=share_btn_tw
The Architects’ Journal is something I read every week, so it’s heartening to see some more opinion about the Governments’ plans: http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/opinion/park-the-housing-bills-implications-are-devastating/10001344.fullarticle (link available to subscribers) A taster from the article: “Like others, we’re replacing housing that was built in the 80s – only 30 years ago. This housing hasn’t suddenly failed; it was never good enough. Small, inaccessible, not energy efficient and poorly built – many of these were ‘starter homes’ – a quick vote-winning fix with little regard for quality of life or longevity. Here we go again. “
As some of you may know, I am an architect and my love of Kennington Park Estate is with both my fellow residents and the lovely architecture itself. The architecture profession is very slowly beginning to become more vocal about the issues facing housing estates, and the Housing Bill. Here is one of my new favourite articles on the subject from around the web: http://www.architecturefoundation.org.uk/the-month-in-architecture-condemnation-for-the-housing-bill More to follow over the next few days…
Many thanks for Kerry for letting my know about a new art shop: QueArts, 220 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DA. Can’t wait to check it out!