Hackney residents prepare for ‘last stand’ over Woodberry Down regeneration

Woodberry Down resident Klaus Graichen (left), with fellow residents Robert Butterworth and Joan Brennan at an earlier stage in the development process in 2011

Opponents of some parts of the regeneration of Woodberry Down are preparing for a last ditch meeting at Hackney Town Hall where residents will fight to save their homes from demolition.

The public hearing will take place on 4 September and will involve residents speaking against the plans for the estate, which include demolishing 1,981 homes and building private, shared ownership and social housing in their place.

The regeneration will also involve building three new public parks, a community centre and library, and a new children’s centre and school facilities.

Klaus Graichen, a resident of Woodberry Down for over 15 years, will be giving a speech at the September meeting against the proposals that would destroy his home.

He said: “It is all about financial gain. Our houses are not only occupying a good site of land, but they are also near the West Reservoir.”

Mr Graichen said he would try to stop the plans but was not hopeful of success.

He said: “Now it’s more or less a fait accompli. This has been going on for 10 years, which means we could not sell our houses since then. And anyway, who wants to buy a house that’s been earmarked for demolition?

“Then next year when it suits them they will ask us to leave. It’s completely taking away our freedom to choose when to sell.”

Part of the Woodberry Down Estate, where some homes are due for demolition

Under the current plans residents will be subject to compulsory purchase orders if they do not accept the amount of compensation offered by the council, but Mr Graichen said the amount he has been offered is well below the market value of his home.

He said his property has been valued by estate agents at around £350,000 but that the council is only offering him £100,000.

A spokesperson for Hackney Council contested this, saying no-one at Woodberry Down had been offered only £100,000.

He said: “We have made sure leaseholders can stay at Woodberry Down by offering to swap equity in their current home for a newly-built one, and offering to pay for a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors-accredited surveyor chosen by leaseholders to value their home based on like-for-like sales in the area, not simply an estimate.

“All Woodberry Down residents deserve high-quality new homes to replace the ageing ones on the current estate and leaseholders have an opportunity to exchange their current home for a brand new one which loses none of the value of their investment.”