New community garden launched at the Colville Estate fun day
More than 150 people enjoyed live music, barbecued food, and a spot of gardening while finding out more about Hackney Council’s regeneration of Colville on 12 July.
A new community garden at Kellett House, building on the work of keen local gardener Michael Jones, was launched with residents by Cllr Philip Glanville, Cabinet Member for Housing, who planted a sunflower as part of the green-fingered activities on the day.
Residents were able to see designs and models for the third phase of Colville’s regeneration, by Karakusevic Carson Architects and David Chipperfield Architects, with representatives on hand to answer questions about the programme, along with Council officers, while Hackney Homes and police officers provided information on their services.
Hoxton East and Shoreditch ward councillors Feryal Demirci and Kam Adams discussed the regeneration with those present, while members of the Colville Estate Tenants and Residents Association (CETRA) talked about the proposals from the perspective of tenants and leaseholders, with support from PPCR, the estate’s independent adviser service. Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, also attended the event, turning a hand to some planting in the garden.
Volunteers are welcome to help out with the garden, where radishes, beetroot, onions, and runner beans, among other things, are being grown currently. A new and permanent site for the community garden will be created as part of Colville’s regeneration.
Colville is being regenerated by the Council over a 15-year period, to replace 435 existing social rented and leasehold homes with 935 new ones for social renting, shared ownership and private sale, with the first phase, Bridport House, completed in 2011, providing 41 homes for social renting and co-funded by the Council and the Greater London Authority.
“It was good to see so many people at Colville finding out about how we’re going to deliver high quality new Council homes for local residents. Working with the local community on Colville has always been critical to the success of the regeneration, which made the launch of this new resident inspired garden extra special.”
