Labour councillor Kischa-Bianca Green on the Avenue Road Estate regeneration
I was born in Waltham Forest and have spent the majority of my life living, learning and working here but South Leytonstone in particular has always held a warm space in my heart, filled with memories. My aunty and cousins lived there growing up and, when I was a teenager, I entered a talent show at the Nexus Centre on the Avenue Road Estate, a venue I remain very attached to. There has always been a great community feel to the centre and I made many friends through singing, music and performing.
That’s why I am ecstatic to have been part of planning the redevelopment of this council estate, alongside my fellow Cann Hall ward councillors Sally Littlejohn and Keith Rayner. These flats were built to cope with housing shortages in the 1960s and don’t meet the needs of residents today. It’s clear the people living on the estate overwhelmingly agree: almost two thirds took part in a vote about whether to rebuild and a vast majority were in favour.
Regenerating the estate will provide new, high quality homes for more than 240 existing residents, plus a further 378 new homes, which will include further affordable housing. The project will also create a new public square, green spaces, room for shops and community or leisure spaces and – I was especially pleased to hear – a bespoke new home for the Nexus Centre. After all the joy it brought me, I am thankful that this venue will continue to provide a space for the community, especially children and young people, to develop their performance skills and show off their talents.
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I and my fellow councillors have attended monthly meetings with the officers managing the rebuild and frequently visited the portable cabin on-site to see the latest designs and project timelines. I have been very pleased with how well the project has been planned and the strong focus on resident engagement, with consultants ready and available to answer any questions or take suggestions. Residents themselves have told me they feel very involved and listened to, which has made the entire process much easier and allowed them to feel excited about the future. I think this way of redeveloping the estate is something that should be replicated across the borough, as it has helped to assuage any potential concerns.
The redevelopment of Avenue Road Estate is just one of many positive changes happening in Cann Hall at the moment, from new housing to a new youth hub, the refurbishment of Fred Wigg and John Walsh towers to the South Leytonstone framework and an upcoming pilot to tackle community safety problems. As ward councillors, we are also very proud of our voluntary sector, providing food banks, warm spaces, domestic abuse drop-ins, a boxing club and more.
Next time you are in Leytonstone, stop by Cann Hall and see all the amazing developments.
Get in touch with Cllr Green by emailing [email protected]
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