Following HTA and Sanctuary Housing Association’s structured community consultation process on the Morningside, Old Gascoyne, Old Kingshold and Shore Estates in Hackney, residents voted for the transfer of the estates to the Housing Association.
A comprehensive refurbishment programme was undertaken, including internal modernisation, new lifts and secure entrances, and landscaping.
The landscaping was undertaken under a separate £ 4.5 million external works contract, and set out to improve security, improve visual and recreational amenity, and improve the estates’ integration into surrounding neighbourhoods.
Additionally, Morningside Estate was developed to a further detailed programme of regeneration. Building upon a 9 year involvement with the estate HTA’s proposals include a sustainable community centre, 21 flats, 8 townhouses and extensive community landscaping. The objective of these new insertions is to create a safer and more cohesive neighbourhood by tackling specific problem area sites. In-depth community consultation was conducted throughout the design process, including presentations to the Estate Committee, whole-Estate news bulletins, workshops and a pre-planning Exhibition Day. Local residents and children have actively influenced the creation of the community centre design brief and the aspirations for community landscaping.
The approach to the project has been all about creating value from the outset. By developing land it owns, Sanctuary was able to use the profits of sale homes to cross-subsidise new affordable homes and a community centre. By introducing a mix of tenures and home ownership, value has been created as the estate is seen as a place to choose to live. Making better use of the site of the single story community centre has brought value through the inclusion of more flats for shared ownership as well as a new community centre and public square at the heart of the estate. The enhanced landscape and creation of new, distinct squares and gardens is bringing great amenity value to parts of the estate which were not being utilised, and benefiting all residents.
