Tottenham estate once known as one of the UK's worst places to live set to get 130million upgrade

An estate in London that used to be regarded as one of London's worst is going to undergo a drastic change after a 130million upgrade was approved by Haringey Council's planning committee. Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham once had a notoriously bad reputation and has been the focus of regeneration projects in the past. The

An estate in London that used to be regarded as one of London's worst is going to undergo a drastic change after a £130million upgrade was approved by Haringey Council's planning committee.

Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham once had a notoriously bad reputation and has been the focus of regeneration projects in the past. The Broadwater Farm Riot in 1985 happened after Cynthia Jarret, the mother of Floyd Jarret, died after police searched her house. This led to a small demonstration outside Tottenham police station which then escalated where officers were attacked and officer PC Keith Blakelock was murdered.

There were also protests after the death of Mark Duggan that saw the 4,000 residents of the estate take to the street to protest his death which led to riots throughout the city and beyond.

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The events of 1985 saw a £33 million regeneration programme introduced that saw the 12-interconnected buildings uniquely redesigned with their own distinct colours. Now, the estate will be undergoing a new regeneration due to tests conducted in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster in West London.

Haringey Council announced in 2018 that two blocks - Tangmere House and Northolt - needed to be evacuated after they found they were structurally unsafe. 11 blocks in total were deemed structurally unsafe and vulnerable to collapse if a gas pipe was to explode so something needed to be done and on Monday, December 5, Haringey Council announced their new plans.

The council plans to build 294 new council homes on the estate and agreed to relocate and restore the Waterfall mural that adorned Debden block. The improvements will be the biggest in the estate's history in its 50-year history. The council will be building new council homes for the estate’s residents and 35 per cent of these will be much-needed larger three to four-bedroom family homes.

Alongside the new council homes, residents will benefit from a new modern health and wellbeing centre, a grocery shop, affordable workspaces, jobs and training opportunities and enhanced green and open spaces. The council says the plans to develop Broadwater have been done in partnership with residents, community groups and key stakeholders.

The demolition of Tangmere is already underway and the first new homes will start to be built on the old Moselle School site in 2023. Tangmere and Northolt Blocks (including Stapleford North Wing), the Energy Centre, Medical Centre and Enterprise Centre buildings now have planning consent to be demolished and rebuilt. All other blocks will be refurbished through the wider Broadwater Farm Improvement Programme.

Cllr Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council said: “I’m delighted that our plans to improve the lives of Broadwater Farm residents by delivering high quality, safe and genuinely affordable homes have been given the go-ahead. I’m immensely proud of the schemes we are undertaking to deliver a new generation of council homes and this redevelopment is a worthy addition and an exciting time for the estate.

“As well as new council homes at council rent, this scheme will transform the estate by creating open spaces where people want to meet, chat and play alongside a new shop, community hub, medical centre, workspaces and street layouts.

“Much of that has been down to the community because this was a resident-led, placemaking proposal. We will continue working together to shape the future of the neighbourhood, ensuring residents are the ones that benefit most from the opportunities the redevelopment will bring.”

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