HOUSING


THE WOULD-BE BUYER


“ London is a brilliant city to live in – but it’s hard work”


Andrew Wignall is LSBU’s Space Manager, and is currently studying for an MSc in Real Estate. He is finding it impossible to get on to the property ladder in London


‘Professionally, this is an exciting time to be in London. At LSBU we are working hard both to optimise our existing space, and to shape our response to the changes going on around us. The regeneration of Elephant and Castle is set to transform this whole area, and that creates challenges but also great opportunities to form partnerships and be part of the new landscape.


‘From my personal perspective, it’s very challenging. The lack of affordable housing is a real issue for me and many other people I know. I’m a working professional, but prices in London are so high, nothing seems within reach. I’m constantly receiving emails from developers or housing associations offering “affordable” options, but either they’re beyond my budget or the eligibility criteria are ridiculously tight. Even so, they’re still massively over-subscribed.


‘I’m thinking of moving a bit further out, maybe to Wimbledon or Putney. It will mean a longer journey to work and probably higher rent too, which will make it even harder for me to save. But if I’m never going to be able to afford to buy anyway, I’d rather be living somewhere more comfortable.


‘My friends who’ve managed to buy have either borrowed money from their parents or moved out of the city altogether and so have a much longer commute. It seems that unless you’re incredibly successful, the only way to be here and take advantage of all the opportunities London can offer is to sacrifice your quality of life. There’s no doubt London is still a brilliant city to live in. But it’s very hard work!’


THE REGENERATION CONSULTANT


each one. The aim is to give them as much ownership as possible. So, for example, the landscaping team could end up working directly with the grounds maintenance team to monitor their performance. It’s almost as if we’re reporting to the residents, rather than the other way round. That level of engagement is really important, so that people feel they have a say in the place where they live. Otherwise change is not sustainable.


“ Social and physical regeneration must go hand in hand”


Regeneration consultant Caroline Pillay (BSc Social Care, 1996) is working with leading housing association Moat on the redevelopment of Pollards Hill in Mitcham, south London


‘There’s no doubt in my mind that the housing crisis is real. Here at Pollards Hill, you can see the impact at first hand. The properties are dilapidated, the community is fragmented and people have stopped taking pride in their environment.


‘We’re focusing on two main areas – making homes more energy efficient, and tackling things that will have a big visual impact on the estate overall. That includes repurposing and reshaping the outside areas. There’s so much green space here, but people don’t know how to use it. We want to create functional areas that will really engage people. We’re also upgrading freeholders’ homes as well as leaseholders’, so the whole estate will benefit.


‘To succeed, a project like this must involve the community from the start. We have six special interest groups covering different aspects of physical and social regeneration and there are residents on


‘It’s been said that regeneration is just a more acceptable word for gentrification. I think we’re some way off that here. This area is too far out, and too badly connected, to really be on the radar, although I’m sure that will change. But I worked on the regeneration of Myatt’s Field, near Oval; that really is an area that’s changed beyond recognition.


‘Again, we engaged with residents from the start. As a result, I think we’ve ended up with a very successful mixed community. Yes, there are more affluent people living in the area now, but a good percentage of the original tenants have remained. The influx of new people has helped to raise standards and expectations across the board. Before, Myatts Field was a byword for drugs and crime. Now it’s a desirable place to live.


‘My real passion is for what I call “placemaking”. It’s definitely something we achieved at Myatts Field and I hope we can do the same here in Mitcham. It’s not enough to give people a refurbished or a new home; you have to create a sense of community and a sense of pride, to provide places where children can play, where families can hang out together, where people can chat to their neighbours. For me, social and physical regeneration have to go hand in hand and that means taking people along with you. Do it with local people, not to them.’


Autumn 2015 | SOUTH BANK | 15


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24