David Cameron has announced that some of the country’s most run-down housing estates will be replaced with attractive and safe homes.
As part of a comprehensive package of measures to end poverty and improve the life chances of the most disadvantaged, the government will work with 100 housing estates across the country to either radically transform them or, in the worst cases, knock them down and replace them with high-quality homes.
Setting out the scale of the problem the Prime Minister said: "Within these so-called sink estates, behind front doors, families build warm and welcoming homes.
"But step outside in the worst estates and you’re confronted by brutal high-rise towers and dark alleyways that are a gift to criminals.
"Decades of neglect have led to gangs and anti-social behaviour. And poverty has become entrenched, because those who could afford to move have understandably done so."
Secretary of State Greg Clark added: "We know the worst estates offer huge potential to be revived so that they become thriving communities and places which people want to live and work in.
"That’s why we’re so determined to kick-start work which will benefit the lives of thousands of people by providing high quality homes."
To help tackle the problem the nationwide strategy will be supported by a new Estate Regeneration Advisory Panel, which will be chaired by Lord Heseltine, the former Deputy Prime Minister who has long championed the regeneration of Britain’s inner cities. The Panel will report in detail by this year’s Autumn Statement.
The Prime Minister’s announcement comes ahead of a report from property advisor Savills which will show the approach to regeneration could help catalyse the building of hundreds of thousands of new homes in London alone.
Yolande Barnes, Savills Research Director, said: "What the Savills research shows is that housing estates can deliver more homes and be made into better neighbourhoods by re-integrating them into the wider street network and creating or repairing the streetscape.
"This creates more highly valued neighbourhoods. The signs are that new developments of ‘complete streets’ cost less to build than conventional estate renewal."
