The facts about Packington Estate

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Jul 2003

Islington Council is proposing to redevelop the entire Packington Square Estate after an inspection has revealed that the six-storey high housing blocks do not meet current construction requirements for buildings of their height. The estate was built at the end of the 1960ís before regulations governing buildings constructed of large precast concrete panels were made more stringent. In order to satisfy current requirements for high-rise blocks of more than five storeys, buildings on Packington Square Estate will need strengthening with steel pins in the walls and floors. The issue is more complicated because gas was installed on the 530-dwelling estate when it was constructed. In order to retain gas central heating and cooking in peopleís homes, the blocks need additional strengthening to a level which Islington Council believes is not viable. It will be better to build new homes and redevelop the estate instead. If this proposal is accepted tenants from the estate would be progressively re-housed throughout the borough during the works. The whole programme could take a number of years. Everyone will be re-housed elsewhere and given a choice about whether to return to the estate in the future. People who have bought their homes will be compensated at the current market rate or offered a new home when the estate is rebuilt. Islington Council stresses that the buildings are not unsafe or a danger. And this view is supported by independent gas and building experts. But because a recent comprehensive survey of all the councilís estates of similar construction has revealed the fact that the estate does not meet standards, it cannot be ignored and left the way it is. The council has checked out all the blocks in the borough built using this system and the Packington is the only one affected by this problem. ìEveryone living on the Packington Square Estate must be reassured that their homes are not about to fall down,î said council leader, Steve Hitchins. ìThe blocks are safe but because they donít comply with safety regulations we have a duty to our tenants and leaseholders to do something about it. ìIt is too early to say what will happen in the long term, but it may be better to rebuild the estate rather than strengthen the existing buildings. Unfortunately people living there will have their lives disrupted for quite some time, but they may prefer a brand new home at the end of it.î He added: ì We can only apologise in advance for the upheaval and disruption this will cause everyone on the estate and in the surrounding community. Islington Council will do its utmost to prove to people that their homes are not at risk, make sure everyone knows whatís going on and that they are consulted and given as many options as possible each step of the way.î The council is planning to take some immediate precautionary measures by removing all gas cookers and associated supplies from the blocks and replacing everyoneís heating and cooking appliances with electric ones. Other short-term precautionary measures that will happen shortly include the installation of gas and carbon monoxide alarms and more frequent boiler servicing and gas checks in each home. Other measures will include the removal of all gas fired boilers and the installation of communal heating plant serving the existing systems. The council is working closely with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and gas experts CORGI who have given the council advice on the best way to deal with the issue. HSE are continuing to work with the council and have expressed their support for the measures outlined above. In the longer term, the council will be asking everyone on the estate and in the local community for their views on the best possible options. The council will establish a residents reference group to work with housing managers on the way forward and the council is proposing to appoint an independent advocate ñ a ëtenants friendí for the estate. The council has considerable experience of rehousing tenants during ongoing building works from the major redevelopment of the New River Green (formerly Marquess) Estate. Arrangements to support Packington Square residents will include extra staff in a drop-in office on the estate manned during office hours by officers from the councilís building and relocation departments, gas safety and right-to-buy legal specialists to advise people.