Recently in Social Housing Category

South Kilburn really does seem to be on a bit of a roll now (although there was still the ritual kerfuffle this Saturday morning when one of our officers had to come over to my place to get me to sign emergency papers before I flew out to MIPIM; same thing happened last year! Ah, the course of urban regeneration never did run smooth). 

I am really thrilled to report that the Homes and Communities Agency have come through with a very innovative and creative deal, awarding Brent council funding for the building of 500 new homes in place of crumbling 18-storey tower blocks on the South Kilburn Estate.

London and Quadrant (L&Q) are our chosen partner, the two sites (Albert Road and Carlton Vale) are being sold to them with - and this is the crucial part of the deal - the proceeds then being reinvested into the regeneration of the South Kilburn Estate. 

All parties, from HCA throughout, are investing for the long term here. It's a serious group effort.

Two-hundred and eighty-six new homes will be delivered now and the next phase of regeneration can begin. What a huge relief. 

Here you see a lovely photograph of the leader of Brent, cllr Paul Lorber (Liberal Democrat) on the right side of the picture and the lead member for regeneration cllr John Detre (Conservative) on the left, pretending that it is they themselves who will be demolishing the reviled bison blocks. 

Nice to get feedback.

A good mate of mine, who is indeed a very fine public servant (as I've just told Veredus, if you're reading this, Blondie) contacted me with a little anecdote on the subject of ghost busters.

Her ex-husband was a housing estate manager in Hull (as it happens, in the NDC area there) way back and had to go and see a tenant one day who had been bitterly complaining about noises and creaks and problems with her house.

No one could find anything wrong. She wanted a transfer to get away, adamant there was a poltergeist in her house; a transfer to another property was the only solution she would accept.

So he makes his appointment, tramps over there to see her, gets a full blown story about all the things the poltergeist has been doing - the usual smashing of plates, noise making and throwing of water routine.

When pushed on what makes her so sure it's supernatural, she says she knows who it is. "Oh", says the ex-husband, "and who is it?" "My eight year old son" says the lady, "oh no", cries the ex-husband "I am so sorry to hear that, it's terrible", etc etc... attempting now to comfort her and gaining more understanding of why she might want to move....

Grant Shapps made rather a splendid speech at the RIBA yesterday (alright, alright, so I admit I wasn't actually there but I received a copy - independently - from three of my best moles!). He began by 'fessing up his political apprenticeship as a candidate in the council elections for the Borough of Brent in 1994 (which, needless to say, is very Handy-Harry since I am hoping he will come to our assistance in South Kilburn!).

In 1994, the ward that Mr Shapps's was contesting was dominated by the Chalkhill Estate, which (just like the South Kilburn Estate) was built in the late 60's and comprised of the notorious "Bison Blocks" (or dirty great slabs of concrete, to you and me). The design of the Chalkhill Estate was based on that of Park Hill in Sheffield (Park Hill was back on the telly yet again last night, did you see?). The blocks were linked by 'Walkways in the Sky'.

                                                 Park Hill, Sheffield

Mr Shapps tells a charming story thus: "One day I came across an elderly man who had lived in his sixth floor Chalkhill flat since it was built. 'The milk float used to come up in that lift and then drive along this 'Walkway in the Sky' to deliver bottles to my front door,' he explained as we chatted in the draughty walkway outside his flat. And there it was. For the briefest of moments I fleetingly recognised what the architect of the Chalkhill Estate must have had in mind as he sketched out his utopia in the sky."

Hindsight is an exact science and one of the things that the more puritan element of the urban regeneration lobby sometimes forget is that some of these mistakes - on a monumental scale admittedly - but mistakes, honestly made, were by people who knew no better. In our current climate of political correctness and litigation and paranoia it is almost impossible these days to publicly admit you made a mistake, and that is indeed a most terrible shame.

People keep asking me (Local Space being a prime example), how do you prepare for the likely change in administration? What should we be doing? How do we get equipped? What do we put in place?

I really don't know why folk think I know anything, but I never like disappointing people, so I always attempt to come up with something. Whilst my contact base is wide and multifarious (which is how I can do what I do) I have no "hotline" to the Conservative policy wonks and I have taken to reading, assiduously, all documents and pamphlets from think tanks and pressure groups which may have a bearing (those of you who know me personally - Banana Boy come on down - will tell you this is most out of character; I don't normally read anything, not even the instructions on the wretched ready meals).

Fortunately, to bale me out, like the cavalry on the horizon, Michael Ward at BURA is putting all the best brains in regeneration in the country into a workshop next week to work out what new products and services the regeneration sector needs NOW to prepare, so I will keep you posted as to the more - ahem - informed outcome.

But in the meantime, my current advice is this: you know not what is coming next, so get as ready as you can. Have a total clear out (in every sense), trim down, strip back everything and establish your priorities. 

I did a gig last night. A speech at a dinner at Ashridge Management College (pictured below) for the Board and staff of Local Space, an innovative new housing association. To be honest, at about 4pm yesterday, I was genuinely wishing that I hadn't said "yes" all those months ago. After all, it has been a long week (yet again!) and I was a bit exhausted at the prospect of even the short schlep up to the outskirts of Berkhamsted.

Then, but of course, the trains out of Euston were round the chute due to signal failure at Bletchley so it was standing room only on the one train that was going. AND I've sustained a rather silly injury to my foot which means I can't walk in anything but flip flops, carrying my shoes in a Boots carrier bag (just so very stylish!). So I was a weeny bit depleted altogether really.

But, despite limping - both physically and metaphorically - up to the event, I am just so very very glad I made the effort. Not only is Ashridge rather a pukka place to spend an evening, I was seriously uplifted by what I learnt of Local Space and deeply inspired by the remarkable team that Bob Young, the Chief Executive, has assembled around him: they are a glittery and diverse bunch (not least of all because I met them tricked out for a black tie dinner, some in their national dress). Every one of the team is idiosyncratic and gloriously gorgeous in their own fashion.