Prime Minister pledges to transform the country’s most run down estates

David Cameron has announced that some of the country’s most run-down housing estates will be transformed into attractive and safe homes.

As part of a comprehensive package to end poverty and improve life chances of the disadvantaged, the government has pledged to work with 100 housing estates across the country, to radically transform them, or knock them down and replace them with safe and comfortable high-quality homes.

Setting out the scale of the problem, David Cameron said: “Within these so-called sink estates, behind front doors, families build warm and welcoming homes.

“But step outside in the worst estates and you’re confronted by brutal high-rise towers and dark alleyways that are a gift to criminals.

“Decades of neglect have led to gangs and anti-social behaviour. And poverty has become entrenched, because those who could afford to move have understandably done so.”

Secretary of State Greg Clark said: “We know the worst estates offer huge potential to be revived so that they become thriving communities and places which people want to live and work in.

“That’s why we’re so determined to kick-start work which will benefit the lives of thousands of people by providing high quality homes.”

A new Estate Regeneration Advisory Panel, chaired by Lord Heseltine, will support the nationwide strategy, and will report in detail by this year’s Autumn Statement.

The announcement comes ahead of a report from property advisor Savills, which will show the approach to regeneration could help catalyse the building of hundreds of thousands of new homes in London alone.

Yolande Barnes, Savills Research Director, said: “What the Savills research shows is that housing estates can deliver more homes and be made into better neighbourhoods by re-integrating them into the wider street network and creating or repairing the streetscape.

“This creates more highly valued neighbourhoods. The signs are that new developments of ‘complete streets’ cost less to build than conventional estate renewal.”

The number of new homes being built in Britain is up by 25% in the past year.

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