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Lib Dems welcome government decision on Packington Square funding
May 10, 2004 12:00 AM
Islington Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news this week that the government has awarded funding for the Council's bid to improve the Packington Square Estate and that any redevelopment plans for the estate will include council homes. The government looked favourably on councils like Islington that are already implementing successful housing Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes such as Islington's refurbishment of its street properties. The council received a report in May 2003 confirming that the Packington Square Estate did not meet required building regulations. The latest funding announcement means that discussions on improvements to the 535 home Packington Square Estate can now move forward. A reference group of residents has been meeting monthly to discuss future options for the estate - strengthening the estate to allow it to conform to building regulations; reducing the height of the estate for the same reasons; and full redevelopment. Leader of Islington Council, Liberal Democrat Councillor Steve Hitchins, said: "This latest announcement from Housing Minister Keith Hill is obviously very welcome news. "Tenants on the Packington Square will obviously have the final say as to the future of their estate and the reference group will be looking in detail at the three different options. "I am delighted that the government has now also committed itself to having council housing on the Packington Square if the estate is redeveloped." The facts The government announced last Wednesday which councils in England had been successful in its £600 million third round allocation of housing PFI funding. Islington was one of just 9 English councils to be given the go-ahead for the third round of PFI funding.
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