Haringey council has come under fire from opposition members and local MPs over plans for a controversial £2bn regeneration scheme.
The London borough’s cabinet agreed earlier this month to transfer tens of millions of pounds worth of public land, including council homes, civic buildings and commercial units into the Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV), which is a joint venture between the local authority and developers Lendlease.
The council hopes the combination of its land and Lendlease’s expertise will help spearhead the large-scale redevelopment of various parts of the borough.
However, the plans have met with large-scale opposition over what will happen to existing tenants and leaseholders.
Last week, the Liberal Democrat group called a meeting of Haringey’s scrutiny committee, which took place last night to consider their demands for a vote on the HDV at full council.
After a lengthy meeting, the committee agreed to refer it back to the cabinet for a rethink, instead of a full council vote.
‘We do not believe there are enough protections for council tenants, leaseholders and businesses who will be affected,’ said Liberal Democrat group deputy leader, Liz Morris.
‘The HDV needs to be stopped. Even Labour’s own MPs are calling for a rethink. The Lib Dems believe that this decision, which will be the biggest decision ever made by the council, should be taken by all councillors at a full council meeting and not by a small group of Labour councillors at a cabinet meeting. Anything else is undemocratic.’
The joint venture is expected to last for at least 15-20 years, with 6,400 new homes and a new town centre in Wood Green planned in the first wave of development.
According to the council, HDV will also invest £8m in schemes such as skills and training for local residents and community programmes to support people with poor mental health.
And there will also be a £20m long-term social investment programme focused on improving local resident’s prospects, health, environment and sense of community involvement.
Last week, Labour’ Tottenham MP David Lammy wrote to Haringey leader, Claire Kober, outlining his concerns about the joint venture.
Mr Lammy said he is ‘not convinced’ the HDV will deliver the ‘social and genuinely affordable homes that we need in Tottenham’.
‘This is the most controversial and contentious political issue I have seen in Totttenham since I was first elected to parliament 17 years ago,’ wrote Mr Lammy. ‘And while I understand the context of funding cuts and constraints on borrowing, the council under your leadership has failed to carry the community with it and appeared out of touch and high-handed throughout the process.’
In response, Haringey’s cabinet member, Alan Strickland said the local authority believes ‘this new partnership is the right way to deliver some of the thousands of jobs and homes Haringey needs’.
‘We are on the record as saying all tenants and leaseholders will have a guaranteed right of return and that 40 per cent of all housing built will be affordable, based on income not rent levels or sale prices, in line with our housing strategy and planning policy.’
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