Dear Resident

South Acton Regeneration Phase 2

I am writing to advise you of the current position about the regeneration of South Acton Phase 2 * this includes the central area around the shops and the blocks south of Bollo Bridge Road.

Some of you may have heard rumours or have read articles in the press that there are difficulties with the project. I want to ensure that you have the facts.

Most of you will know that over a year ago we appointed Ealing Family Housing and Wates Developers to be our partners in redeveloping the Phase 2 area including new and refurbished housing, community facilities, new landscaping, redesigned streets and roads.

The scheme is very complex legally and financially. A key part of the funding to do this work is £9.2 million in the form of a government grant from the Housing Corporation. To ensure we get this money we needed to sign a development agreement with both Wates and Ealing Family by 31st March 2006.

To our disappointment we have not been able to conclude an agreement with Wates in time to meet this deadline. There are a number of reasons for this which are too detailed for this letter but they include Wates wishing to introduce a second private developer and discussion about investment return guarantees.

It is vitally important for the regeneration scheme that Ealing Family and the Council obtain the money from the Housing Corporation. Therefore we are now putting all our efforts into an alternative plan which will meet the 31st March deadline. This involves an agreement between the Council and Ealing Family Housing to transfer land to them for affordable housing (rented and shared ownership, fixed equity, keyworker). We would then either continue negotiations with Wates or seek a new private developer partner to build the private housing.

Obtaining the government grant would also allow detailed design work to begin and also work to begin on site such as planned demolition of empty blocks. Ealing Family Housing and the Council both support this alternative plan and are jointly doing all we can to achieve it. If we need to make any changes to the plan over the next few months residents will be fully informed and involved in these discussions.

The Council remains committed to delivering the regeneration plan that we have agreed with residents and we are making every effort to do this. I would have preferred to be writing to you to confirm that a deal has been signed and both councillors and officers are disappointed that we have not yet managed to resolve matters with Wates. However we will continue to work to find a solution.

This project for South Acton is very ambitious * all large projects like this are very complicated and carry a lot of risks. However if we do not aim high then we will not achieve the sort of neighbourhood and improvements that most residents want. Phase 1 will be completed with the refurbishment of the blocks currently underway. There is a new play area on the recreation ground and the new community centre is nearly ready. Councillors and officers will continue to do everything we can to deliver Phase 2 and the plans for the rest of the estate in the longer term.

I can assure you that you will be kept informed of any developments over the coming weeks. Should you have any questions or want to discuss this then please contact either myself or council officers on the numbers given.