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Camden News - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 17 July 2008

Shaping future for hexagonal home

THE elderly residents of a hexagonal housing block are set to air their views on plans to demolish their homes at a meeting tonight (Thursday).
Housing association Octavia sparked outcry two years ago when they sent letters out informing their elderly tenants they had just months to move out of the Olive and Douglas Waites block in Priory Road, West Hampstead, before it was bulldozed.
The building is known locally as “Legoland” because of its distinctive design and was opened by the Queen Mother in 1970.
Octavia still intend to knock it down, but are now offering to house residents on-site during the redevelopment and provide them with a flat when it is finished.
Ward councillor Don Williams, who has previously written to the New Journal expressing his fears for tenants living in Waites Houses, said he is reassured by Octavia’s pledge to keep residents on-site.
“The council is already doing this with some of its elderly people’s block,” he said.
“It will be difficult to turn around to Octavia and say they can’t do the same.”
Tonight’s meeting will take place tonight at St Mary’s Hall in Abbey Road.

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