Southern Housing Group and Bethnal Green residents get together

Published by Jon Land for Southern Housing Group in Housing

Pictured: Angie Walls of Southern Housing Group's Service Centre helping Southern Housing Group's residents. Pictured right: Barking Resident, Mary Peter; Bethnal Green resident Emily Shepherd with Mrs Rita Smith-Williams and Mr Davidson of Tower Hamlets.

Progress on the regeneration of the Thames Gateway region and the implications for residents was the subject of a recent presentation given by Kevin Whittle, Head of Policy, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC).

Kevin was invited to talk to Bethnal Green residents and the staff of Southern Housing Group's Thames Gateway region at their annual Residents' Conference held at the Royal Mint Court (Tower Hamlets). He talked about the Government's plans for a major growth in homes and jobs in the Thames Gateway region.

 Kevin explained the role of the LTGDC as leading the delivery of sustainable development in east London. Outlining LTGDC's policies to ensure a high-quality environment and that good services are secured for existing communities as well as for the new residents and workers coming into the area.

He said that while the eyes of the world are on London; the preparation for the Olympics in 2012; the regeneration of Thames Gateway; the real story is about the places within the region and the people who make the places.

"London Thames Gateway is made up of a series of important-historic centres with strong communities and an established sense of place. Good regeneration means enhancing these places; supporting existing communities by providing more and better infrastructure for them," said Kevin Whittle.

Pamela Bhamra, Thames Gateway Regional Director at Southern Housing Group said that LTGDC's involvement at the conference was fitting as the theme was Your Community our Commitment. It was a way of ensuring that all of our residents were informed of the changes that are, and will be, taking place across the Thames Gateway region and what this means for them.

"Our 2008 Residents' Conference was the first time Southern Housing Group's Thames Gateway tenants and leaseholders have been represented together and demonstrates Southern Housing Group's approach to integrated management. Southern Housing Group's objective is to ensure that our housing estates and schemes are places where people want to live. Events such as this provide us with valuable feedback which we use to continuously improve our services and customer satisfaction."

The conference comprised a series of workshops as well as a number of stands enabling residents to speak to the staff and contractors responsible for the delivery of their services. The contractors included the maintenance companies Axis, MHS and Robert Heath. Angie Wall from Southern Housing Group's Service Centre, as well as staff from Southern Home Ownership and Southern Housing Foundation were also available at the conference to assist residents with their enquiries.

Pam added that the success of the conference was reflected in the residents' feedback which was very positive. (Unattributable quote) "Once again an enjoyable day. I find these events informative and very helpful."

Nearly all the residents that attended said: they wanted to get involved; more than half said the conference was very good while the remainder said it was good. -ends-

For more information please contact Karen Bermingham, Communications Officer on 020 7553 6479
communications@shgroup.org.uk


Notes for Editors

Southern Housing Group's Thames Gateway region comprises residents who live in the London Boroughs of:

Basildon;
Barking and Dagenham (St Ann's);
Brentwood;
Greenwich (Royal Arsenal);
Havering (Blade Court at Elm Park);
Medway;
Newham (Beckton Estate);
Thurrock (Anchor Point Grays);
Tower Hamlets (Cyprus Street) (Hogarth Court);
Waltham Forest (Lewis Gardens)
Woolwich.
Southern Housing Group is one of southern England’s largest housing associations. Founded over 100 years ago, we own and manage 24,000 homes for more than 66,000 residents, employing more than 800 people and working with more than 80 local authorities.

Our activities centre on four-key areas: the development of quality-affordable housing, housing and neighbourhood management, a range of rent and home ownership and social investment.

We believe that building communities is as important as building homes. So as well as developing and managing quality, affordable housing for rent and ownership, we invest considerable resources to provide an environment where people really want to live.

Southern Housing Group Limited is a Charitable Industrial and Provident Society No. 27412R.

London Thames Gateway Development Corporation http://www.ltgdc.org.uk/ is the key government agency responsible for delivering social and economic growth to transform the London Thames Gateway part of Europe's largest regeneration project. It exists to improve the quality of life for residents and businesses in one of the most dynamic and culturally vibrant part of the Thames Gateway.

It has significant powers to effect change by helping to improve the prospects for new homes, jobs, services and environmental improvements for local people.

The LTGDC area contains over 5,000-ha of land extending across East London Boroughs: Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.