IF the cost of living crisis has highlighted anything, it’s the importance of making the essential things in life affordable.

Few things are as essential as affordable housing and that is why I am so pleased that the first phase of the council’s plans to completely regenerate the Cambridge Road Estate in Norbiton is set to start in a few weeks' time.

Not only will the scheme provide new, improved community facilities and green spaces that will transform the look and feel of this run-down estate, but it will also deliver 2,170 new homes.

The reality is that many local people can’t currently afford to rent or buy in the borough. There are around 915 households living in temporary accommodation and nearly 3,500 on our register for social housing. Many are families or key workers.

That is why it is particularly good news that nearly half of the new housing provided through this landmark redevelopment will be affordable homes, with the vast majority being council rented.

Alongside its development partner Countryside, the council is also focused on making sure these new homes are accessible and sustainable.

With the council committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and taking further steps to help reduce emissions locally, the regeneration of the Cambridge Road Estate is set to take us much closer to these goals. In fact, homes on the estate promise to be some of the greenest in the country. This is because, as part of the project, we are working with Thames Water to create the first district heating system powered by sewage. It would be the first of its kind in England and, as well as powering homes on the estate, the aim is for it to also provide heat to nearby businesses and public buildings.

The environmental benefits of this initiative could be enormous. Saving around 105,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over 30 years — equivalent to 157,000 return flights from London to New York or more than 15,000 car journeys around the world.

All in all, the Cambridge Road Estate regeneration project will achieve so much for the borough, providing vitally needed new homes, regenerating a run-down and tired council estate and helping Kingston to move towards a greener future.

The growing demand and costs for vital support such as social care and children’s services, as well as ever-decreasing government grants, mean the council faces large and daunting financial pressures. However, our strong financial management in recent years has ensured we can continue to carry out vital projects such as this. Projects that improve the quality of life and the environment for our residents.

Kingston residents expect us to provide them with a greener future, improved public spaces and new housing through regeneration that is in keeping with the borough. The Cambridge Road Estate is a wonderful example of us doing all these things.

But this regeneration project will do even more. It will strengthen community resilience on the estate. Friends and family are being helped to stay together and community spaces are being enhanced.

When faced with challenges such as the cost of living crisis, the council needs to do more than simply provide access to support. It also has to help communities to pull together for themselves. Our borough showed how brilliant we can be at doing this during the pandemic, now the council is providing the opportunities for it to happen whatever the challenge our communities face.