High investment need estates

On 31 May 2011, the Cabinet agreed to consult with residents on the proposed five year investment programme designed to enable us to meet our Decent Homes targets. At the same time Cabinet also identified six 'high investment need estates' and agreed a way forward for them.

The term 'high investment need estate' is used to describe estates highlighted by the council's 2010 stock condition survey as being in need of significant repair and refers to the cost of bringing the blocks up to the government decent homes standard.

The high investment need estates identified were:

• The Aylesbury Estate
• The Brandon Estate
• The Elmington Estate
• The Hawkstone Estate
• The Four Squares Estate
• The Abbeyfield Estate

Cabinet agreed to continue with the regeneration activity that is already ongoing on both the Aylesbury and Elmington estates.  It was agreed to continue investment into the Brandon estate was agreed in line with the Council's 5 year investment programme.

For the Hawkstone, Four Squares and Abbeyfield estates, the Cabinet agreed that further work around the options available for these estates should be carried out, looking at the possibilities for refurbishment and redevelopment. 

Refurbishment means carrying out the repairs needed to some or all of the blocks to ensure that they meet the government's standard and are warm, dry and safe.

Redevelopment means demolishing some or all of the existing blocks and selling the land on which they sit to a developer to enable redevelopment with new homes, normally by housing associations and private developers.

No decision on the future of the Hawkstone, Four Squares or Abbeyfield estates has been made yet. A decision will not be made until a review of the options for these estates has taken place and been considered by Cabinet.