Aragon Tower is a 24 storey tower block, of 144 flats. The proposal will reduce the present 100% social housing provision on Pepys Estate to a new unspecified number. A decanting programme for Aragon Tower has already been in progress since the end of 1999.
The diversion from the Estate Action regeneration has been vigorously objected to by tenants and their representatives.
Estate Action was granted to Lewisham by Government in 1992 for 7 years to 1999. Later extended by 2 years to April 2001. The initial sum granted, we believe, was 37m in total, less 9m for administration, leaving 28m to refurbish all the properties on Pepys Estate.
The work for this scheme has gone ahead over the latter several years. Tenants and residents have been very pleased with Estate Action, and have been waiting for their turn to come in the programme. Until the Council diverted from the original programme using a survey of the whole estate to get a view. The detailed questionnaire used was very mis-leading, as the majority of questions were not about the new line of the proposal in hand. At this time, too, the Council did not come to the tenants and residents with any estimated overspend on Estate Action. They still had 6m of Estate Action funding left - enough to complete the project.
When tenants were informed about the proposals - in Aragon Tower - they were led to believe that the Right to Return would mean to the Tower block itself. Subsequently a 'decanting' process was enforced on Aragon tenants. Yet around 53% have simply moved to other parts of Pepys estate, and over 30% of these have moved to one of the other 2 tower blocks on the estate. 13 tenants now remain in residence, who know their rights and are expecting fair treatment.
We believe that the decanting of Aragon Tower should not have taken place until a full proposal for new use was put to the tenants in occupation, and to the Secretary of State. There are two identical tower blocks on the estate where refurbishment was carried with the tenants 'in situ', proving that this could also happen with Aragon Tower if it were for social housing.
To this day we still do not know whether it will be for social housing or for private development.
A vote taken at local Pepys Neighbourhood Committee was unanimous to keep
Aragon Tower for social housing, not to privatise, to keep rents low enough for ordinary people to be able to afford in this area.
Decanting
The Council are stating that tenants are themselves are now leaving 'voluntarily'. Yet a decanting team appointed by Lewisham has been in place giving tenants only 2 offers, before they are faced with the threat of eviction. The high number of people who have moved locally highlights the feeling that their preference is to stay in an area that they both know and like.
We would like your decision to favour the local community itself to have
regeneration through a high quality refurbishment for the properties under
threat; which are at present good quality homes - this includes Aragon Tower, and a further five low rise blocks on the Pepys estate of Barfleur House, Dolben Court, Limberg House, Marlowe House and Millard House.
We have made a bid for a small amount of funding from a Community Chest set up by 'Get Set for Citizenship' at New Cross, in order to put forward our own ideas on what can be done.
The overall proposal involves demolition of existing social housing in the low rise blocks, and the sale of the land to a Registered Social Landlord. It therefore qualifies under Section 10a of the 1985 Housing Act that the Secretary of State should receive a full proposal of the development, as should then tenants in residence. This has not taken place.
We look forward to your reply.
Any other information that you require, we can supply.
Yours sincerely,
PS - The contents of this letter were sent by email on the 9th October
2001 to stephen.byers@dtlr.gov.uk, yet no response has been given.
On the behalf of Steering Committee for Pepys Estate Action, TAG - The
Action Group
Mr S Greening - Aragon, Mr M Cadman - Marlowe, Mr D Fleming - Daubeny,
Now decanted tenants from Barfleur House - Ms P Devito, Ms M Dunn, Mr
D Kenrick.
Supported by the Pepys Neighbourhood Committee.
25th October 2001
Attention : Mr Stephen Byers, Secretary of State, Transport, Local
Government and the Regions
: Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC, Minister of State for Housing,
Planning and Regeneration
Dear Secretary of State,
We wish to bring to your attention our striong objection to the London Borough of Lewishams' proposal for the disposal of Aragon Tower to a private landlord from the existing social housing provision on the Pepys Estate, Deptford, SE8; and for the repurchase of properties sold under the Right to Buy ( RTB ).
Background in brief to Estate action on the Pepys Estate, Deptford
Mr S Greening - Chair Steering Committee
Mr M Cadman - Secretary Steering Committee
Mr L Brooks - Aragon, Ms S Jeffrey - Limberg, Mr A Djourdem - Millard,
Ms T Lane - Limberg,
Ms M Sanh - Marlowe, Ms N Nyaulingo - Aragon.
Now decanted tenant from Limberg House - Ms K Clark.
Supported by Pepys Community Forum - www.pepyscommunityforum.org