Foreword: Lord Kerslake
We have a desperate need to build more homes of all types and tenures, particularly in London. Despite the regeneration successes over the last two decades, we still have housing estates in urgent need of regeneration that could take more housing. What could possibly go wrong with putting these together?
Well the answer is quite a lot, to which a long list of well-intentioned but ultimately unsuccessful initiatives bears testimony. Sometimes the failure is down to viability. In others, it is the result of rejection by existing residents. Whatever the reason, the outcome is the same. As we embark on yet another Government led initiative therefore, it is timely and valuable to have this wise and sensible report. The prerequisites for successful regeneration are particularly powerful. These are long game, big investment, big return projects. They must focus on great placemaking with new homes as a part of this. Above all, they must have the active engagement and support of the existing residents. I would strongly encourage anyone who is involved in regeneration to read this report. We may make new mistakes in the future but there is no need to carry on repeating the old ones. Lord Kerslake is a member of the House of Lords, Chair of Peabody and the Chairman of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |