We have consulted with internal and external. King Square Estate Newsletter. Regeneration Proposals

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1 Regeneration Proposals NOVEMBER 2014 Welcome to the third edition of the King Square newsletter, with the latest update on the King Square Estate regeneration project. This includes proposals for 140 new homes of which 98 will be affordable, mainly for social rent, and 42 for private sale. We also propose to provide new community facilities, environmental and public realm improvements. We have consulted with internal and external stakeholders and the local community over the past eight months, with design focus groups, workshops, exhibitions and drop-in events. Thank you to everyone who attended our consultation events, workshops and site visits. Your feedback has helped us shape our proposals, and any concerns have been reviewed by the project design team and taken into consideration, where possible, as more detailed plans are drawn up. This newsletter presents the key elements of our revised design proposals, developed and refined through the consultation process. We are presenting the nearly complete final designs at the public exhibition and consultation events to take place on 20 and 22 November 2014, to which you are invited. You will have an opportunity to view the drawings and make any final comments, letting us know what you think.

2 2 Resident consultation Our design proposals have been developed in consultation with residents and wider stakeholders. The process included design 'workshops' and drop-in events focussing on key themes. Independent Living: two workshops took place in April and May focusing on the interior design and massing of the new Block F as well as a site visit to an award winning scheme by PTEa in West Hampstead (Octavia Housing). Youth consultation film project - Speak Out: film made by local young people in collaboration with specialist consultant Action Dog, as part of our design consultation targeting young people. The film captures the views of young people on King Square's open spaces. New community facility: several design meetings took place in May and August with the Tenant's and Resident's Association (TRA), focusing on the layout and functional requirements of the new facility together with a visit to the new ARC community centre (Packington Estate). More information on page 3. Environmental improvements: design workshops and consultation walkabouts took place in May, July and October, including a drop-in consultation event where our proposals regarding landscaping improvements, new community garden, bike and storage facilities and bin shelters were presented for feedback and comment. More information on pages 6 and 7. Saturday 14 June - Fun day: attended by over 100 local residents, the event was a big success. Our exhibition banners were on display outside President House while families and children had fun with food, face painting, a bouncy castle and other treats. We also showed the King Square Estate youth film Speak Out. Thursday 19 June - Evening consultation: attended by residents mostly from the wider local area. Feedback was largely favourable but also drew our attention to proximity issues with adjacent blocks, as well as lighting and landscaping issues. Speak Out Kings Square film Community facility planning discussion Addressing your concerns The large majority of residents were positive about the proposals. Some concerns were raised regarding provision of adequate parking spaces for residents. We are providing 85 parking spaces in the proposals, working closely with the area housing managers to ensure existing resident spaces are safeguarded. New homes will generally be car-free except for wheelchair accessible homes. Some residents also raised concerns about overlooking, privacy and a reduction of sunlight in their properties because of our new developments. Also, concerns were expressed about the access link to King Square Gardens through President House creating nuisance. We have reviewed these issues and responded in our amended design proposals. Exhibition banners Saturday fun day

3 New community facility Several meetings took place with the King Square Tenants' and Residents' Association (TRA), to discuss possible uses for the community centre, such as parties, classes and clubs. The TRA wanted to ensure that the community facility would have a flexible hall space, seating area in the entrance, an office, kitchen, a separate meeting room and toilets for the people that will use it. We have taken on board the comments and agreed a design that ensures the community centre will meet the community's requirements as a key part of the estate improvements. Resident consultation Proposed community centre plan at ground level Block C 3 Formal feedback We have also sought feedback from the planning service, the design review panel and local councillors on our pre-application proposals. We have also liaised with Moreland School and other adjacent property landlords, identifying any issues which needed attention. The feedback has been generally positive, and key to us getting our designs right before submitting our detailed planning application. What we propose We propose to develop 140 new high quality energy efficient homes on three infill sites across the estate and on land transferred from Moreland School. We are also building a new community facility and refurbishing the existing community nursery and front of Rahere House. Blocks B,C, E and F will be affordable homes exclusively for social rent. Block D1 is to be private residential for sale, and block D2 is to be mixed tenure, mainly social for rent, some private wheel chair accessible units and a limited number of shared ownership subject to affordability. The private residential sales will pay for the new housing and part fund the estate regeneration works, and new Moreland School. Steering group meetings We meet approximately every four to six weeks with the TRA and other key stakeholders to ensure they are kept abreast of the proposals. The King Square TRA have been engaged throughout the design process, and have helped with our consultation efforts and hosting of the summer exhibition and other events. We wish to say a big thank you to the TRA for their continued support and commitment in time and effort. Block B - Maisonettes Demolishing the garages and redeveloping the site with 2/3 storey family sized maisonettes, ten three bed units plus one wheelchair unit, to help families living in overcrowded households. Block C - Community facility and residential accommodation A new community facility is for local residents and the TRA to use. The facility will be located on the ground floor with its own external space, with three residential floors above with 12 two bed homes for rent and a wheelchair accessible home at ground level. Block D1 and Block D2 Private and mixed tenure Block D1, the private block of flats on Goswell Road is to include approximately 36 units for sale on the open market and a small corner shop at ground level. Block D2 adjacent to the school will provide approximately 19 affordable units (mainly social rent) and six private units (mainly ground level wheelchair accessible) with a shared courtyard between the blocks. Block E Independent Living Block Approximately 24 new Independent Living homes will be created for vulnerable residents and those over 55 years of age. All homes will be wheelchair accessible with private balconies overlooking a secure communal garden. Block F Turnpike South The ten existing bedsits will be replaced by 24 new homes for social rent and a new shared open space for the residents.

4 4 What we propose View of Block D1 from Goswell Road - Private residential Moreland Street Moreland Primary School D1 Bike Shed D2 President Goswell Road View of Block E from Goswell Road - Independent living E Turnpike House F View of Block F from Goswell Road south side Elevations: new street frontage on Goswell Road facing Turnpike House

5 What we propose 5 Central Street C B Rahere House A View of Block A - Rahere House refurbished nursery and new Central Street estate entrance House View of Block B - Family maisonettes King Square Gardens Lever Street View of Block C with Community Centre Section through King Square estate, Block B facing Block C and side of President House

6 6 Environmental improvements Proposed landscaping: view of estate road from Central Street entrance, with Block B on the right. Islington Council is investing over 1.5million on improving the communal areas on the estate. We are creating a new community space under Block C and upgrading the existing community nursery to accommodate up to 60 children, while creating a welcoming new landscape at the entrance of the estate and entrance to Rahere House. Environmental improvements Architects PTE, working closely with landscape architects HTA, have engaged in a series of design workshops with the TRA, including an evening walkabout meeting on 30 July, and a consultation drop-in event on 21 October attended by several residents and members of the TRA. The design team have incorporated comments received in their revised proposals which will be shown at our November consultation events. Bin shelters Residents welcomed the proposals to screen the existing bin storage by Rahere House and President House. The illustrations show examples of how to screen unsightly bin stores and improve how the estate looks. The key environmental improvements we are proposing and which were discussed with residents include: y Improvements to public spaces including: new entrances to the estate and improved street frontage along Goswell Road and Central Street y Heart of the estate - a new space around the community facility (ground level of Block C see also page 3) y New community gardens, secured for residents' use only y New secure bin shelters and cycle and mobility scooter storage for Rahere, President and Turnpike House y Landscaping improvements including buffer zones to improve privacy of dwellings at ground level, attractive planters and paving and food growing areas y New link to King Square Gardens for residents through the middle of President House. y 85 parking spaces, of which nine are designated for the new wheelchair accessible homes, and regular drop-off points for blue badge holders near all buildings' entrances. y New access link to Moreland School and Gard Street, where the new school entrance is to be located. Examples of bin shelters and screens

7 Estate regeneration 7 View along the front of President House with landscaping improvements Proposed improvements to front of President House with cycle store and link to King Square gardens Existing entrance to Rahere House Existing entrance to President House Bike and other storage facilities Proposed for the front of Rahere House and the passage through President House, as well as the back of Turnpike House (not shown here). Proposed improvements to front of Rahere House with new bin shelters and cycle store

8 8 Next steps Drawing of proposed school entrance Update on Moreland Primary School The new Moreland School design team is preparing to submit their proposals for planning approval in December Morgan Sindall has been appointed as main contractor to build the school. The design proposals will be exhibited in parallel with the King Square proposals at our joint public consultation events in November The construction works are planned to start in Spring For further information contact Tom Louvre, Capital Asset Management and Contracts Manager Children s Services tom.louvre@islington.gov.uk Residents have been updated about the scheme proposals and invited to residents drop ins and public exhibition events at key stages of the process, where residents were able to view the design proposals and discuss them with the architects and project manager of the scheme. We had many consultations and workshop events to date, in order to ensure the designs meet our high standards and requirements and residents are kept informed. Come and have your say Upcoming consultation events When Where Thursday 20 November 4.30am to 7.30pm Saturday 22 November 10.45am to 1.45pm Moreland Children's Centre Moreland Community House 31 Moreland Street London EC1V 8BB Light refreshments provided! Rehousing for local people Under the council s 'Local Lettings' policy, the new council homes we build will be offered first to existing residents on the estate who are in housing need or wish to transfer to more suitable accommodation. This could be residents who either live in overcrowded homes, want to downsize or residents with mobility problems who need homes that are easier for them to access and get around. Downsizing to smaller homes frees up properties for families needing larger homes. For more information see our new build section at Get in touch What happens next Milestone Anticipated dates Planning submission December 2014 Planning decision Spring 2015 Tender action Spring - Summer 2015 Appointment of main contractor Late Summer 2015 Work due to start on site Autumn 2015 To find out more, including details of how to get involved in the focus groups and workshops, or if you need this information in another language or reading format such as Braille, large print, audio or Easy Read, please contact: Eleni Tsoskounoglou, Principal Project Manager eleni.tsoskounoglou@islington.gov.uk For more information visit the website TRA TRA TRA Working in partnership