Rumour Busters

We would like to take this opportunity to clarify some important issues surrounding the redevelopment proposals for Wornington Green. 

1) Residents do not have a choice over where they will move to.

Residents are given a choice of where they will be rehoused. We sent a Housing Choice Questionnaire for all residents to complete and return in summer 2007. This included a question on your preferred choice of where you would like to live (including an option to stay on the estate). If you have not told us about your preferences for rehousing, please contact Yvonne Williams, Resident Liaison Officer on 020 8964 6415.

2) KHT wants us to move out of Wornington Green permanently.                        

This is not the case. If you want to move out permanently you can. If you want to stay in Wornington Green you can - this is 100% guaranteed.

3) Refurbishment is the easiest way to solve the problems on Wornington Green.

Refurbishment will not solve many of the problems on Wornington Green, such as chronic overcrowding, under-occupancy, poor building design and layout. Full regeneration is the only option to tackle these problems.

4) The results of the ERS residents' survey are not accurate - not that many people actually want the regeneration to happen.

ERS is an independent Market Research Society accredited organisation. 252 out of 538 residents took part in the survey - this is an outstanding response for a survey of this kind. Over two thirds of residents taking part in the survey agreed that although they had concerns, the redevelopment of Wornington Green is for the best.

5) KHT cannot afford to carry out the regeneration because of the credit crunch - the developer has pulled out and the proposed private properties will fail to sell.

We can afford to complete the full regeneration of Wornington Green. The proposed private properties will partly finance the regeneration, but given that it is a long-term scheme the housing market will not be at its current levels when the private properties are ready. No developers have pulled out - we haven't yet decided on a developer for the Wornington Green regeneration.

6) We are going to lose our park.

There will always be a park at least the same size as Athlone Gardens. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) own Athlone Gardens, so the final say rests with them.

7) This regeneration has been talked about for years - it will be years until it happens.

A planning application was submitted to the Council in November 2009, and approved in March 2010. We are now looking to starting construction work later this year.