Official reason is a funding shortfall but tenants blame imminent takeover of their RSL
The 拢30m regeneration of a 278-home estate in north London has been mothballed and may be drastically altered.

Tenants fear the decision may have something to do with the takeover of the project's sponsor, troubled Ridgehill Housing Association, by the William Sutton Trust.

Shirley Thorpe, chair of the Stratfield Residents' Association, said: "It seems a very big coincidence that this has happened at the exact time when the William Sutton Trust has taken over Ridgehill."

Ridgehill has been under Housing Corporation supervision since December 2002 and will officially become part of the William Sutton Trust in the New Year.

Ridgehill director Tony Turnbull admitted the association was considering abandoning a three-year-old plan to demolish 176 flats on the Stratfield Road estate in Borehamwood and build 330 state-of-the-art, mixed-tenure homes, in favour of refurbishing the flats.

It鈥檚 outrageous. I can鈥檛 sell my home privately, I can鈥檛 sell it back to the association

Shirley Thorpe, Stratfield Road estate resident

But he denied that this was because of the imminent takeover and instead blamed a funding shortfall. "Taking into account the latest requirement of the planning authority and government guidance, unfortunately, the project was found to have a funding shortfall," he said. "Consequently, the board decided to review the whole project and look at new proposals in the light of potential funding though the Housing Corporation."

HTA Architects and housebuilder Laing Homes worked with Ridgehill to draw up the plans. Laing refused to comment on the story but said it had been informed the scheme was under review. Ben Derbyshire, chairman of HTA, could not comment on the story except to say it was his understanding Ridgehill had decided not to proceed with the scheme.

Tenants were informed in October, just before planning permission was to be handed in, that the project had encountered a funding shortfall and that help from the Housing Corporation was being sought.

They are furious that the project has been put on ice. Thorpe, who is a right-to-buy leaseholder, said: "This means we're stuck here again. It's outrageous. I can't sell my home privately, I can't sell it back to the association, I'm held hostage."

Source

Housing Today