On Thursday, 16 August, we welcomed London politicians and decision makers to the site of St Ann’s hospital.
James Murray, the London Deputy Mayor for Housing, joined the tour, alongside Joanne McCartney, London Assembly Member for Enfield and Haringey, Haringey Council’s Leader Joseph Ejiofor and Cabinet Member for Housing and Deputy Leader Emine Ibrahim.
Now that the GLA have purchased the site, it’s hugely important that the community is involved in making the new development reflect their priorities for permanently affordable housing, a health legacy on the site and the best use and maintenance of green space.
With rents and house prices continuing to go through the roof, people in the borough are feeling the real effects of the London housing crisis and need a change of approach as soon as possible.
During the tour of the site, we outlined how our proposals would build a community on the site, rather than another standard development. If taken forward effectively, the site could be the UK’s biggest ever community land trust, and a real game changer in how local people interact with housing where they live. As a community led development, local people would be able to influence the design of homes and community with an understanding of what their own needs are.