A group of Stockwell residents are feeling relieved after a ballot which proposed the demolition and regeneration of their homes returned a majority ‘No’ vote. In September and October, Bellevue Garden Mansions residents took part in a ballot from their housing association, Hyde, which asked them if they were in favour or against the proposed demolition of their homes to make way for a new development.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) can reveal 76.3per cent of residents voted against the plans, while 23.7per cent voted in favour. The resident ballot saw a voter turnout of 92.2per cent. Tim Coombes, Chair of Bellevue Garden Mansions Resident Association, said: “This has been an overwhelmingly stressful two-year process for Bellevue residents. Households have faced sustained uncertainty about losing their homes, their history, and a cherished architectural landmark.
“[The] result makes clear how strongly people reject plans that would scar the face of Stockwell. I’m relieved the community stood together so cohesively – now we can all finally start to get on with our lives again.”
Bellevue Garden Mansions consists of a block of 10 Victorian terraces which date back to 1839, and are known locally as “the heart of Old Stockwell”.
Hyde had wanted to bulldoze all 62 homes at Bellevue Garden Mansions to make way for a new development consisting of 450 new flats in the form of low and mid-rise blocks, and one tower block. Hyde was proposing to make at least 50per cent of the new homes ‘affordable’ while the other half would have been entirely private.
The plans would have seen the loss of a communal garden, a local nursery and Rhodesia Road Playground, a green space which contains basketball courts that is heavily used by the Stockwell community. A Hyde spokesperson previously said they would re-provide the green space, the games court and play areas. They also said they would build a new nursery.
However, the plans had been opposed by a number of residents, as they were worried they’d be subjected to living next to a building site for several years. Residents claimed Hyde “just cares about money” and were worried the community would be lost if the plans went ahead. Leaseholder, Sonia Pillay, accused Hyde of allowing the homes to fall into repair.
Sonia previously told the LDRS: “They can’t give me enough money to cover the losses I am going to feel. Over the last 30 years, they’ve allowed the properties to fall, they’re trying to make them fall into disrepair, dilapidation, in order to push our prices down for our properties.”
Lambeth Self Help tenants, a co-operatively run housing association located on Grantham Road, claimed that even though Hyde was not their landlord, their homes were also under threat of demolition.
The residents claimed they were asked to join the ballot but declined saying Greater London Authority rules dictate only their landlord can make such an offer.
Responding to the ballot result, Julie Timbrell from Lambeth Self Help, said: “Lambeth Self Help is delighted that Bellevue Garden Mansions residents have overwhelmingly rejected Hyde’s regeneration plan for Stockwell, which encompassed our homes on Grantham Road.
“Our residents, and the association, also rejected this plan as destructive of the environment and the community. We call on Hyde to follow Lambeth Self Help’s example and instead retrofit their homes using Social Housing Decarbonisation Funding.”
Julie added: “Any future plans must be developed with the community, both residents and local stakeholders, as equal partners in stewarding the local area for the benefit of all present and future inhabitants.”
A Hyde spokesperson told the LDRS: “We’d like to thank Bellevue Mansions’ residents for taking part in the ballot on our regeneration proposals, and in the many consultation events that helped shape these transformational ideas. Lambeth faces a desperate housing crisis, with too many people not having a permanent home. Councils across the capital are spending £5.5million every day on temporary accommodation, up more than 40per cent in the last year.”
They added: “So, while we’re disappointed with the result, and we’re sure some of the residents are too, we remain committed to building more affordable homes in Lambeth. We’ll be working with the Greater London Authority, the London Borough of Lambeth and the local community to explore other options and opportunities in the area.”
