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Artist’s impression of how the new estate will look
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Bulldozers ready to pull down ‘death-trap’ estate
Demolish-and-rebuild plan for homes at risk of gas explosion
A SPRAWLING, rundown estate derided as a “death trap” by tenants is to be demolished and rebuilt.
The 1960s-era Packington estate, next to the Regent’s Canal in Angel, was condemned in 2003 after surveyors said the six-storey buildings were too high and at risk from gas explosions.
Now the Hyde Housing Association will level the estate in stages to begin work on a mix of affordable housing and private flats.
The Packington’s 538 families will start to move out of their flats later this year when the estate’s first 127 new homes are ready.
Rebuilding work will be split into six phases, each taking about 18 months. The new estate will have 839 homes, of which 538 will be affordable housing and the rest for sale.
It will be one of the biggest developments to be undertaken in Islington in recent years.
Councillors at Monday night’s south area planning committee meeting approved the rebuilding proposals almost unanimously.
Packington resident Cheryl Gillett told the meeting: “For years we have been living in fragile conditions and now the residents feel this is the best scheme on offer. There were 89 per cent of tenants in favour and 94 per cent of leaseholders.”
But not everyone is pleased with the plans. Residents in Rheidol Terrace, which backs onto the west side of the estate, say the new buildings, between three and six storeys high, will block light at their homes.
They also oppose the loss of Rheidol Green, a small piece of parkland. Katie Rowan, of Rheidol Green Residents’ Group, said: “The height of the development is completely incompatible with the height of the Victorian houses in this conservation area.”
She added: “Local people had hoped it would be a real opportunity not only to improve the lives of those living on the estate but people living in the surrounding area.”
Residents in private flats on the other side of the Regent’s Canal are also unhappy with the plans.
Committee chairman Lib Dem councillor George Allan said: “There’s a paradox between residents in high buildings on one side of the canal objecting to another high building on the other side of the canal.”
The development will have 270 car parking spaces and at least 420 bicycle stands.
The housing association is to spend £300,000 on public art – £50,000 for each of the six phases – and £65,000 on play equipment. It will pay for a youth centre to be moved during construction work.
Each home on the new estate will be powered by a biomass boiler, possibly using wood chips shipped in by canal barges.
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