Heygate Estate redevelopment: just 79 social rented units out of a total 2,535 new homes

[friendofdorothy]

The interesting thing about this one is it's objectively a clusterfuck. I mean a lot of the other redevelopment scandals come down to ideological issues, supporting social housing, should people have a 'right' to live in a certain area etc.

However here you have a black and white case of the tax payer getting screwed over. You've got a clear case of people by their own admission switching sides and clear conflicts of interest. It's all there and they haven't even bothered to try and cover it up. I'm sure people from all areas of the political spectrum are going to be angered by this.

But then what? The damage has been done and the people don't really care. I mean I've done nothing but whinge about it on here and share an article on facebook so I'm not saying that they're wrong but what can we do?

I feel like those people involved should be shamed. Shamed in front of their neighbours, they should be shamed in front of the other parents at the school gates, they should be shamed in front of their own families.

Just the cold hard facts of the case brought to the immediate attention of those closest to them. People who they've ultimately helped steal from. It's public, they're bragging about it on linkedin after all. The people should around them should understand what they mean when they say they 'work for the council' or 'in property'

No I don't know what to do other than keeping talking, whinging and publicising it.

What has got to be done for someone to face criminal charges / serious misconduit / gerrymandering or some other charges? Why is this not a matter for some authority - the police, serious fraud, councillors, public auditor, Mayor, London Assembly or our govt? If its not illegal it should be.

In the mean time I'll 'whinge' on about it to anyone who will listen, in the local, at work, in the street - anywhere. Its attracted so little publicity most london and even in southwark people know nothing about it. Conveniently a lot of the people displaced by the demolition are no longer in the borough.

I fear the councillors in Lambeth have looked at this as inspiration for redevelopment in this borough - perhaps they have in your borough too.

 

[sealion]

The sad thing for me is that i'm not shocked or surprised by this fuckery anymore.To many corrupt people in high places getting richer, safe with the knowledge that they are, in with and above the law. This quote from architectural critic Rowan Moore, taken from the Heygate chapter of his recent book ‘Slow Burn City’ :sums it up for me,,,,,,,,,,“ Southwark Council has been played by developers. It has had its tummy tickled, arm twisted and arse kicked. It has got a poor deal in return for its considerable assets, multiple promises have been broken and violence done to the lives of many who lived there.”

 

[friendofdorothy]

The sad thing for me is that i'm not shocked or surprised by this fuckery anymore.To many corrupt people in high places getting richer, safe with the knowledge that they are, in with and above the law. This quote sums it up for me,,,,,,,,,,“ Southwark Council has been played by developers. It has had its tummy tickled, arm twisted and arse kicked. It has got a poor deal in return for its considerable assets, multiple promises have been broken and violence done to the lives of many who lived there.”

who are you quoting?

 

[sealion]

who are you quoting?

Sorry should have put that in.Will edit that post.

architectural critic Rowan Moore, taken from the Heygate chapter of his recent book ‘Slow Burn City’ :

 

[salem]

Yet more bollocks from Southwark. They haven't actually been monitoring whether developers are delivering on their obligations to include social housing and surprise surprise there seems to be many examples of developers taking advantage of this by shaving quite a few units off here and there. In the ombudsman's words Southwark "did not have a systematic supervision procedure to check compliance. It relied on developers’ voluntary compliance" which is either or depending on how charitable you're feeling towards the staff at Southwark.

Lots more interesting stuff here - http://35percent.org/2016-12-12-ombudsman-slams-southwark-for-no-s106-monitoring/.

That link is well worth a click, has clear examples. They reckon at least 43 developments are short on their allocation.

They've really done some fantastic investigation. I think (hope) this story has some legs. I wonder how many of the other boroughs are also failing to check up on these things. Might be worth some FOI requests.

 

[alex_]

Yet more bollocks from Southwark. They haven't actually been monitoring whether developers are delivering on their obligations to include social housing and surprise surprise there seems to be many examples of developers taking advantage of this by shaving quite a few units off here and there. In the ombudsman's words Southwark "did not have a systematic supervision procedure to check compliance. It relied on developers’ voluntary compliance" which is either or depending on how charitable you're feeling towards the staff at Southwark.

Lots more interesting stuff here - http://35percent.org/2016-12-12-ombudsman-slams-southwark-for-no-s106-monitoring/.

That link is well worth a click, has clear examples. They reckon at least 43 developments are short on their allocation.

They've really done some fantastic investigation. I think (hope) this story has some legs. I wonder how many of the other boroughs are also failing to check up on these things. Might be worth some FOI requests.

Can't help but think this leaves Southwark
In a very powerful position over these developers, I wonder how they'll fuck this one up.

Alex

 

[Dogsauce]

Can't help but think this leaves Southwark
In a very powerful position over these developers (...)

Not really, if they're too hard on the developers they'll not be able to follow former colleagues in getting a well remunerated job with the same developers after they quit working for the council.

 

[editor]

You absolute fucking cunts, Southwark. May every shitbag responsible for this fucking farce get their come-uppance one way or another. Fuck it. I'm too angry to write anymore

Every Flat in a New South London Development Has Been Sold to Foreign Investors

Eventually, Southwark Council decided it would tear the estate down and start again. In 2002, the council – which sold the land for just £50 million, yet spent almost as much on forcing through the development itself – announced that the new site of around 2,530 homes would host 500 social housing units. Yet by the time successful bidder, Lendlease, unveiled its final plans, just 82 were put aside for the people they'd turfed out.

 

[not-bono-ever]

scum

 

[brogdale]

You absolute fucking cunts, Southwark. May every shitbag responsible for this fucking farce get their come-uppance one way or another. Fuck it. I'm too angry to write anymore

Every Flat in a New South London Development Has Been Sold to Foreign Investors

 

[brogdale]

 

[Pickman's model]

You absolute fucking cunts, Southwark. May every shitbag responsible for this fucking farce get their come-uppance one way or another. Fuck it. I'm too angry to write anymore

Every Flat in a New South London Development Has Been Sold to Foreign Investors

those councillors should be surcharged, bankrupted and forced from office. and then the punishment could start

 

[not-bono-ever]

Kneecapped, tarred and feathered and left on the street for the foxes to gnaw. It makes me utterly fucking furious when I see how this has unfolded and how easily people can be bought off.

 

[Pickman's model]

Kneecapped, tarred and feathered and left on the street for the foxes to gnaw. It makes me utterly fucking furious when I see how this has unfolded and how easily people can be bought off.

not to mention how ludicrously cheaply

 

[not-bono-ever]

...

 

[Chilli.s]

Fuckin shocking corruption.

 

[friendofdorothy]

This is a scandal.

 

[SpookyFrank]

According to Land Registry searches, many properties have been bought – three at a time – by international investors, exclusively using the same solicitor, Riseam Sharples, who appear to have been given exclusive use for all sales. From their own website, Riseam Sharples help offshore buyers purchase "off-plan properties in the course of construction including multi-unit acquisitions and the sale of contracts prior to completion… with many of our clients based offshore".

Not only are all of the buyers of the new South Gardens foreign investors; from the 51 bought so far, many appear to be offshore – untraceable and untaxable. Every single one of the 51 purchases made is listed as "care of 2 Tower Street, WC2H 9NP". Helpfully, that's Riseam Sharples' office address.

Would be interesting to know how this one law firm got themselves in the lucrative position of being the only broker for these properties.

 

[not-bono-ever]

Places like Shanghai and HK are full of people hawking LOndon bullion in the sky investments to FE victims - the regulations in the PRC changed recelty to curtail the outlow of capital from the wealthy as it was seen to be undermining the economy. There was probabaly a significant blip in purchases in the run up to this change.

 

[sealion]

Apols if this has been posted previously.

Revolving Doors

 

[agricola]

Apols if this has been posted previously.

Revolving Doors

There is so much nothing to see there that the article should really come with a Golden Retriever and a white stick.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Apols if this has been posted previously.

Revolving Doors

That is very revealing.

 

[friendofdorothy]

I found this bit of that site interesting - Redefining social rent

 

[sealion]

I found this bit of that site interesting - Redefining social rent

None of it surprises me anymore, It's the norm and it can't be stopped because it's the people in power facilitating it all.

 

[friendofdorothy]

None of it surprises me anymore, It's the norm and it can't be stopped because it's the people in power facilitating it all.

it isn't normal or acceptable. Of course its people in power facilitating it, but that doesn't mean we have to roll over and to accept it.

We can to tell ordinary people who don't know it is happening what is going on - what their ellected representative have being doing with their public property and public money.

We could support those who are fighting it. We can oppsoe others in other authorities seeking to do the same.

 

[sealion]

it isn't normal or acceptable

I choose the wrong word. I know it's not normal but it seems to be standard practice now. Absolutley it's not acceptable and yes people will fight on but nothing seems to change.

We can to tell ordinary people who don't know it is happening what is going on - what their ellected representative have being doing with their public property and public money.

It's all over certain media, all the dirty details in public view but what has this changed ?

We could support those who are fighting it. We can oppsoe others in other authorities seeking to do the same.

I have and still do, but fuck it gets you down sometimes.

 

[sealion]

Former Heygate residents interview and regeneration chat
BBC World Service - World Update, What's the Cost of London's Regeneration?

 

[Sasaferrato]

Boris seems to have stopped bothering about Section 106 - Ken had his flaws, but he was well into the Social Housing element of new developments

It will be interesting to see what the new mayor does. Most of the councils shafting their residents are Labour. (In name at least.)

 

[agricola]

It will be interesting to see what the new mayor does. Most of the councils shafting their residents are Labour. (In name at least.)

After more than a year in office we really should know now what he is doing on this front. That we don't suggests that, on this at least, he isn't that different to Boris.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

Khan's strategy is to annoy as few people as possible so he's in the running for Labour leader next time it comes up.