Green Party mayoral candidate Sian Berry was in rival Zac Goldsmith’s backyard to support Ham Close residents’ fight against the redevelopment of their estate.
People were told last July there were two options for the estate; demolition of 192 –home development and the erection of 400 new units or to leave the estate as it is.
Ms Berry and local Greater London Assembly candidate Andree Frieze met with residents last month at Ham Youth Centre to urge for greater engagement by Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP).
Ms Berry said: “Residents need to persist with their efforts to hold councils and housing associations to account.
“Councils across London all too often look to push through development plans without the proper engagement of residents.
“By contrast some of the most successful redevelopments in London have come from the effective engagement of existing residents.”
Ms Frieze argued similar developments have resulted in only 20 per cent of former residents returning to their communities.
She said: “Developments like these are destroying local communities because so few people are returning.
“It’s left a lot of people upset and feeling insecure about the future of this estate. And it’s causing a lot of disruption to people who live nearby – it’s affecting house prices as well.
“New, affordable homes need to be built but there are more than two options.”
RHP, which is running the project, said the changes were a reaction to the budget announced by George Osborne on July 8. It mean housing associations must reduce rent levels by one per cent per annum over the next four years.
Ms Frieze called for development on land not used for housing, such as car parks and garages.
The Green Party is campaigning to build 200,000 homes across London and to re-define ‘affordable housing’, which is currently homes priced at 80 per cent of local market value, instead arguing it should be related to local wages.
Ham Close residents are expecting the next proposal for redevelopment in June.
See the residents’ petition against the plans at tinyurl.com/HamClose
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