Rockingham Estate to pilot Southwark’s ‘Great Estates’ initiative

Seven estates have been chosen to pilot 'estate improvement plans' by Cllr Leo Pollak, cabinet member for social regeneration, great estates and new council homes.

The council's Great Estates programme stems from a pledge in Southwark Labour's 2018 manifesto to "launch a Great Estates Guarantee so that every estate is clean, safe and cared for and residents have the tools to garden and improve their estate".

The Rockingham Estate will share £970,000 funding with six other estates across the borough.

"Residents have raised concerns regarding crime and anti-social behaviour, in particular rival youth gangs with the Tabard estate," according to the report prepared for Cllr Pollak by service development manager Sharon Miller.

"Through the consultation process residents have suggested the following: re-painting and redecoration of estate blocks; improved communal areas; improved lighting, interactive noticeboards, improved play areas, youth clubs; planting of more flowers, fruit and vegetables and the installation of window boxes; improved communal bins and estate cleaning.

"Some of the blocks have recently had new entry doors fitted, but this has had the effect of moving the ASB to the few remaining blocks without door entry, creating new ASB hotspots on the estate.

"There is an area of land on the edge of the estate, in Tarn Street, that used to have garages on, but it has now been cleared and secured. This is an open area that would benefit from an estate project, which would enhance the area and also deter fly tipping and rough sleeping."

In addition to the seven estate pilots, the council is also recruiting a community gardening co-ordinator to encourage gardening projects on estates across the borough.

New data published this week shows that the Rockingham Estate remains one of the most deprived parts of SE1.