In June this year we launched Estate Watch, a new resource for London estate communities affected by demolition which we have developed with Just Space.

You can now read an update on our work on Estate Watch with Just Space and Loretta Lees in the Radical Housing Journal.

Since the website launched, Gilbeys Yard and Juniper Crescent estate residents in Camden were the first community to vote against demolition of their homes as part of the Mayor’s Estate Regeneration ballots scheme, voting no by 91 to 68.

“The scheme was originally promoted to the community here as a development that would make a real difference to helping the homeless on Camden’s waiting list. However, despite our repeated requests, the number of new homes with social rents which would be created has never been disclosed,” said Karl Lewkowicz of the Gilbeys Yard TRA.

“In May and June we requested a delay to the ballot until September to discuss these issues, but One Housing insisted on proceeding with the ballot, despite consultation and engagement with tenants being virtually impossible in the preceding weeks at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown.”

Estate Watch was mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Live in August as a positive community response to the threat of displacement as part of gentrification and regeneration schemes.