WALTHAM FOREST HOUSING ACTION TRUST: PROGRESS IN REGENERATING
HOUSING ESTATES
| ACHIEVEMENTS IN REGENERATION
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| C&AG's Report, para 2, 3, 1.1, 3.36 and 4.11
| 5. The National Audit Office found that the Trust had progressed its redevelopment work and was transforming the estates. By March 1996 the Trust had rehoused 510 households in new homes and 104 households off the estates, and had begun demolition work on the tower and medium rise blocks. The Trust was making a significant impact in achieving a new sense of community and was helping tenants become more involved in the management of their homes. The Trust was also helping tenants obtain employment and training.
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| Qs 14, 18
| 6. The Department told our predecessors that tenants moving into new dwellings were expressing a high level of satisfaction, due in part to the partnership the Trust had forged with its tenants and to the degree of tenant consultation and involvement. The Trust had earned a Charter Mark in recognition of its achievements, and was reducing the level of rent arrears and the number of its vacant properties. It was also working out a succession strategy for the continuance of its work after its wind-up, and had developed an innovative partnership with a community based housing association.
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Qs 72-76
Q 60
| 7. On employment, the Trust reported that it had helped 750 tenants into jobs, including 94 tenants who worked on building the houses. Tenant employees comprised 40 per cent of the community-based housing association's 60 staff and 25 per cent of the Trust's 55 staff. The great majority of the 750 jobs were not connected with the project, and had been obtained via the Trust's Careers Advice and Placement Project which receives notice of vacancies from the local employment service. Whilst there was no scope for inward investment to attract employers, because the Trust had to work within four very constrained residential sites, the area had 19 shops including four which were tenant-run businesses. The Trust had also helped another 14 tenant-businesses, which provided employment for 35 tenants.
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C&AG's Report, para 4.18
Qs 64-66
| 8. On crime, the Trust's own survey in 1996 found that 57 per cent of tenants believed that there had been less crime on the estate than in the previous 12 months. The Trust said that tenants believed the problems to be fewer because the underground car parks have been demolished and there was better lighting. They explained that whilst there was still a problem with drug trafficking on the estates, it was getting less. The Trust had a good relationship with the local police, and was working with them and the youth service to try to give young people more positive role models.
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| Conclusion |
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| 9. We note the Trust's considerable progress in regenerating its housing estates, and that the involvement of tenants in the Trust's affairs has resulted in a high level of tenant satisfaction and a sense of community. We welcome in particular the Trust's success in helping tenants into employment. In that respect, we note the Trust's evidence that it has helped 750 tenants into jobs; and the valuable measures that the Trust has taken to reduce crime on their estates and to establish good relationships with the local police. We note that there are still problems with drug trafficking, but we consider it a creditable achievement on the part of the Trust that 57 per cent of tenants believed in 1996 that there was less crime on the estate than in the previous 12 months.
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