Maydew residents get their views discussed in cabinet meeting

The meeting will not see a decision made on the building itself, that will come later in the year once the administration has had the chance to examine the bigger picture of housing in the borough.

But it will underline that residents, even if only on a temporary basis, will at some point have to move out for vital works to be done on the block. But for now, if residents do not want to leave, they do not have to. The council is reassuring them that the building in its current state is safe and secure.

The meeting is the starting point for a decision on Maydew House. The 24-storey block, on the Abbeyfield estate in Rotherhithe, which was built in 1965, is, despite continued maintenance, in need of extensive major works.

Like many buildings of its time, it is tired, old and is not an ideal place for people to live anymore. Extensive and very expensive major works need to happen, including lift replacement, decent homes work and asbestos removal, to give the building any kind of future as a home for people.

A number of options for the building were explained to its residents, as part of a detailed consultation. This consultation stated that whatever the decision for Maydew, residents will need to move out in order for the works to be completed - either temporarily, for over a year, or permanently.

The feedback on what residents wanted to do states that most people wanted to move out permanently. Tuesday's decision making will focus on what is right for residents, given what they have told the council. Then decisions on the future of the building will happen at a separate meeting later this year. The council will continue to listen to and consult with residents while a decision on the building is made.

Councillor Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for housing said, "It is important to separate the two decisions we plan to make - one is about the building, to be made later this year, and the other is about the people who live there, Tuesday's decision is about the people. I want to reassure leaseholders and tenants who live in Maydew that whatever the decision on the building; we will be listening to them and supporting them all the way."

Background

While a decision is made on the building, people have the option to stay if they want to, or we will support them to move.

Like most buildings of its era, Maydew has asbestos as part of its infrastructure. While asbestos is perfectly safe as it is, but if the council carries out the essential work it needs to, this asbestos will be disturbed and would require extensive work to safely contain and remove it, and residents would have to move out.

Among the long list of work that needs to be completed, the lifts at Maydew alone will cost £390,000 to repair or replace to bring them up to our standard and will require more asbestos removal.

This, and the decent homes work which is required to make Maydew safe, warm and comfortable to live in, will cost over £12 million and incur a bill of at least £70,000 for each leaseholder.