AFTER a 10 year wait, the regeneration of Northolt's Rectory Park estate has been kick-started.
Network Housing Group officially began the first stage of the five phase scheme during the ceremony on February 27.
Bulldozers demolished 66 existing properties and the community centre moved to allow the first 101 homes in the 160 home contract to commence.
Group chief executive of the housing provider, Helen Evans, was joined by Ealing council leader Julian Bell, Ealing North MP Stephen Pound and Mayor of Ealing Mohammad Aslam to celebrate the occasion.
Mr Bell said: “Steve Pound and I had a lot of fun knocking down a six storey block of flats. It is brilliant news as it has taken well over ten years to get to this and the residents have shown patience and determination to get the estate rebuilt. It was fantastic to see- in glorious action- it being knocked down.”
The project will create 425 new homes, increasing the final number on the estate by 155, with better facilities.
Energy efficient accommodation will be provided by the new development consisting of one, two and three bedroom flats and houses.
There will also be a community facility located within the gardens area of Rectory Park as a central meeting place, helping to bring families together.
Phase one of the scheme is due to be completed in 2014 and the first 68 homes should be completed by 2016.
Group chief executive Helen Evans said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Rectory Park residents to rebuild the estate and develop a place and community that people will be proud to call home. We will establish a community chest fund to support activities on the estate and use it to promote community cohesion by ensuring everyone can benefit.”
Extensive consultation was carried out with residents in 2011 on the regeneration design, landscaping and play facilities.
The new homes will be secure, have improved heating systems and meet the London Design Guide and Lifetime Homes Standards.
The development will be owned and managed by Network Stadium Housing Association, part of Network Housing Group.
Network Stadium and the group will work alongside development partner Hill Partnerships to make their vision a reality.
The project will also open employment opportunities with six apprenticeships being made available.
Chair of the Rectory Park residents association, John Hopkins, has been working hard alongside the council over the last seven years. He said that everyone was doubting whether this scheme would happen but now they can see that it has.
The chair said that for a long time they have been known as ‘the forgotten estate’ and now this title can go.
He added: “We are looking at 2018-2019 for completion and are moving faster than we first anticipated.”
