On this page you can find the latest information about the redevelopment of Calverley Close.
Latest news
Delivering social value, community event
July 2024
Together with our joint venture partners, Countryside we held a community event on the estate to gather residents’ feedback and ideas on the positive impact they would like to see in the community through the regeneration of their estate, such as generating new jobs, training, and community projects. The information gathered will help kickstart the process of creating tailored social value proposals that address the specific needs and aspirations of the community.
Construction update
The first phase of construction is in full swing with the first 20 new homes due to be delivered in Spring 2025. Raft foundations have been completed to the new houses, and brickwork has commenced to all terraces. Riverside have engaged with residents to complete the first phase of allocations and we are continuing to work closely with Countryside to minimise any disruption to the local community whilst works are ongoing.
Our latest update
June 2024
The construction of the first 20 homes is progressing well. Foundations, including drainage and services, have been completed to all four terraces and brick work has now commenced. The construction team’s welfare facilities are installed. The storm drainage is nearly completed, including sewer connections.
What’s next?
Over the coming months, external brick work will continue to all of the houses, as will the formation of internal walls. The internal fit out, including electrics, heating, bathrooms, and kitchens will commence in the Autumn. We appreciate the cooperation of our residents and the local community as we work with Countryside towards building a better estate.
Riverside and Countryside mark the start of construction at Calverley Close
March 2024
Earlier this month, we celebrated the start of construction at Calverley Close at an event with our joint venture partner, Countryside. We would like to thank the residents who joined us on the day to mark this milestone.
Along with residents and the teams from Riverside and Countryside, local Councillors, representatives from the Greater London Authority, consultants and the architects attended the ceremony.
This is an exciting time for residents living on the estate as we begin construction on the first 20 homes at Calverley Close, due to be completed in Spring 2025.
Construction update
January 2024
It’s an exciting time at Calverley Close as Countryside are continuing to make progress on site. The demolition of Warner House has now been completed with the disconnection of the gas services in January, and the final ground clearance is due to be completed in February.
This is positive news as it means that Countryside will soon be able to start the construction of the first new 20 affordable houses and, in the coming weeks, the site office cabins will be installed within the construction site. Relevant site surveys will also continue to take place ahead of the start of construction; we anticipate construction to begin, once these activities have taken place, in early March.
Further progress with enabling works in preparation for phase one construction
December 2023
The demolition of Warner House is almost complete, and Countryside is in the process of removing the foundations of the block. These works have been slightly delayed due to unforeseen gas services that they have encountered in the ground.
We anticipate these ground works will be completed once these services are fully disconnected, early in the new year. Over the coming months Countryside will be carrying out survey works before the construction of the first new 20 affordable houses.
What’s next?
Following the demolition of Warner House, we will invite residents to a follow up Meet the Builder event with Countryside, to update them on the build programme. In the new year, we will also hold an event to present final layouts for phase one to residents in this phase.
As we approach the end of 2023, we want to take the opportunity to thank residents for their cooperation as we complete the demolition of Warner House. We look forward to starting the construction of the first new houses in the new year, and we will continue to keep everyone updated about site activities.
Site enabling works update
September 2023
What’s happening?
Countryside has installed a new secondary entrance to Clifford House, closest to Warner House, and dropped kerbs along the main pedestrian access to Clifford House, in preparation for the closure of a section of the existing walkway for the first phase of construction.
These works will ensure access to and from Clifford House is maintained during phase one construction and will enable Countryside to make further progress with the demolition of Warner House, due to be completed this autumn.
What’s next?
Following the demolition of Warner House and during the early stages of the first build phase, Riverside and Countryside will invite residents to an event to discuss the construction works and update them on the build programme. We will also continue to engage with residents as building work gears up, to ensure everyone is kept up to date and any disruption to residents is minimised.
The demolition of Warner House is due to start at the end of this month
August 2023
Following service disconnections to Warner House, Countryside have erected a hoarding line around the block to ensure the safety of the demolition works that are due to start at the end of this month. We anticipate this will last approximately three months.
Residents of Calverley Close were invited to a “Meet the builder” event last month to ensure they are kept up to date with the programme of works, and we have issued a letter to everyone on the estate with the details of the demolition works.
What’s happening?
Later this month, skips will be delivered within the hoarding line and scaffolding will be erected around Warner House. Countryside have signed up to the Considerate Constructors scheme and will work to minimise disruption to residents throughout the demolition works; noise and dust monitoring equipment will be used, as well as a fireman’s hose for dust suppression.
What’s next?
Once Warner House has been demolished, Countryside will start the construction of the first 20 new homes. We will continue to keep residents updated about upcoming construction works taking place in this area.
Calverley Close residents attend Meet the Builder event
July 2023
Residents had the opportunity to meet our construction partners, Countryside and hear about the construction plan for phase one, including details of the upcoming works and a timeline for the overall project.
You can find answers to the questions raised by residents in the Calverley Close redevelopment FAQ section; and a copy of the event presentation on our Tenant Engagement page.
What’s happening?
Countryside is carrying out service disconnections to Warner House, in preparation for the demolition of the block scheduled for late Summer. Once this work has been completed, they will be able to begin the first phase of construction.
We understand that, as building work gears up, it may cause you some concern. Over the coming months, we will continue to engage with residents to ensure everyone on the estate is kept up to date and any disruption is kept to a minimum.
Countryside makes further progress with enabling works at Warner House
May 2023
Countryside has successfully secured the area around Warner House by installing site hoarding. This will allow further enabling works to take place in this area whilst ensuring health and safety and minimising disruption for residents on site.
Service disconnections to Warner House will be taking place in the coming months, before demolition works can begin in late Summer this year. We will continue to keep you updated about the works taking place in this area and over the coming weeks, we will confirm the date of the Meet the Builder event where Countryside will be presenting the plan for the first phase of construction.
Bromley Council has granted us planning permission for the redevelopment of Calverley Close
January 2023
We are pleased to announce that Bromley Council granted Riverside and Countryside full planning permission for the redevelopment of Calverley Close, at their Development Control Committee meeting on Tuesday 10 January 2023.
This is exciting news, and we want to thank you for continuing to engage with us on these proposals over the past few years. It means that we can finally get started with enabling works on the estate this year; and deliver the vision you supported in the resident ballot, creating an improved neighbourhood and delivering new, high-quality homes fit for the future.
What’s next?
With planning permission now granted, we will be seeking vacant possession of Warner House so that Countryside can start enabling works on this section of the estate in Spring 2023. We want to reassure you that we will not be carrying out any demolition works before late Summer this year.
Over the coming months, we will continue to keep you updated and give you plenty of notice ahead of any works taking place on the estate. We will also be holding a Meet the Builder event with our partners Countryside to present the construction plan for the first phase of the redevelopment of your estate and answer any questions you may have about this.
Help us strengthen the planning application at the next Development Control Committee
December 2022
Following the submission of our planning application in the Summer, we have been responding to requests for further information from Bromley Council, . You can view the additional documents provided to Bromley Council on the planning portal.
The planners are scheduled to discuss our planning application at the next Development Control Committee on Tuesday 10 January at 7:30pm, at Bromley Civic Centre.
Members of the public can speak at the Committee, one in support and one objecting. Supporting the application involves standing up and speaking for a couple of minutes about the benefits of the redevelopment of your estate, such as improved access around your home and your estate; a reduced need for repairs and maintenance; new community spaces, play areas and improved security.
If you wish to support the plans at the Committee, please get in touch with your Resident Liaison Officer. You can also attend as a support group; however, only one person will be able to speak on behalf of the group.
Residents at Bromley learn more about upcoming Redevelopment Scheme
February 2022
Residents at Calverley Close, Bromley, were invited to an engagement event to discuss updates on the upcoming redevelopment of their homes.
Following a meeting with the Bromley planning team at the end of last year, the project team at Riverside reviewed their feedback, along with the feedback taken from residents, and the wider community from a recent public consultation.
As a result of this, the architects, HTA, updated the scheme and plans, which were then shared with residents at the event.
Next Steps
Riverside will invite the residents of Calverley Close on a site visit to view a similar redevelopment project. They will then have the opportunity to view the final plans before a planning application is submitted to the London Borough of Bromley this summer.
Residents vote ‘Yes’ in ballot to rebuild their estate
11 August 2021
Following detailed consultation and engagement, residents at Calverley Close voted in favour of plans to redevelop their estate.
Residents were balloted in July over an ambitious nine year redevelopment proposal to transform their estate by Riverside, in a joint-venture partnership with Countryside, the UK’s leading mixed-tenure developer.
The plan will address long standing issues around overcrowding and poor access for some residents through the reprovision of modern, more spacious, energy-efficient housing.
The vote, confirmed last week by the independent Civica Electoral Service, found 60% of tenants who voted were in favour of the proposals, based on an 80% turnout. A total of 151 people were eligible to vote.
Riverside Group Chief Executive, Carol Matthews, said:
“We are very pleased that a majority of voters endorsed our proposals to provide new homes on the estate. This decision means we will be able to provide overcrowded families with new homes that meet their needs, improve tenants’ living conditions, whilst at the same time keeping the existing community together.
“The result is a culmination of working with our residents to develop proposals that will benefit everyone on the estate. We will continue to work with and listen to our tenants, and the wider community as the proposals move forward. We have made a commitment to ensuring that Riverside tenants remain central to our decision-making as we shape the details of our planning application to the London Borough of Bromley this winter.”
Riverside will be submitting a planning application to the London Borough of Bromley by the end of the year, following a full community consultation. The project will also be supported by the Greater London Authority (GLA) who will partly fund the construction of social rented homes on the estate.
The proposals include a guarantee that all tenants will be offered a new home on the estate to meet their housing needs. Around 350 homes for both rent and sale are planned on the estate along with investment in new community facilities including improved green spaces and a play area for children.
Tenants shown proposed designs for the redevelopment of their estate
29 April 2021
Residents living on Calverley Close were invited to an online consultation event last night where they were presented with the latest proposed plans for the redevelopment of their estate.
The residents got an opportunity to see the latest designs through a video presentation and were then able to take part in a live Q&A with the project team.
A booklet showing the proposed plans and updates was also delivered to every home, with details brought to life in a short video below.
The event comes following the news that residents will be asked to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in a ballot to determine if Riverside, and partners HTA and Countryside, will go ahead with the redevelopment.
As lockdown in the UK continues to ease, the project team hope to meet again in a socially distanced consultation event to continue the discussions with tenants at Calverley Close.
Property guardians move into empty homes on the estate
14 August 2020
Riverside is in the process of bringing empty properties on the estate back into use by moving in property guardians. The guardians will occupy the homes on a temporary basis until a decision is made on the future of Calverley Close. The plan has been put in place to safeguard the properties and give tenants living on the estate a greater sense of security.
Riverside has appointed property guardian company, Lowe, to recruit and manage the guardians. Lowe has already carried out some remedial work to many of the vacant homes to make them ready for occupation, and a number of guardians have now moved in.
Guardians are working people (often key workers) priced out of the rental market and looking for affordable housing. To live in a Riverside property, a guardian pays a monthly licence fee which is lower than the average market rent for properties in the area.
Instead of having a tenancy agreement, guardians sign a licence agreement which sets out the rules and regulations they have to follow. The licence is a temporary arrangement, with each party having the right to cancel the agreement by giving four weeks’ notice.
Riverside has also promoted the guardian scheme to adult children of tenants on the estate. As a result, adult children from two families are now living in their own homes on the estate as property guardians.
Tenants invited to have their say on options for the future of the estate
14 April 2020
Over the last six months Riverside has been re-engaging with tenants on plans to improve the Calverley Close estate. Through meetings and estate visits, feedback from tenants has revealed mixed views on how far they want us to go in redeveloping the estate.
In answer to this feedback, we decided to explore the different options available for improving the estate. Savills, working with Levitt Bernstein Architects, have been commissioned to explore the following opportunities for the future of the estate:
- Do minimum – which would leave the estate as it is (with the exception of Warner House) and ensure that buildings were kept safe and compliant with regulations.
- Functional upgrade – which would be an improvement on the ‘do minimum option’ as we would invest in a number of improvements to homes and the estate in general.
- Partial development – which would leave part of the estate intact but would demolish other blocks and replace them with new build homes.
- Full redevelopment – which would demolish and rebuild all the existing buildings on the estate, together with additional new homes.
Each of these options have been presented in a high level summary in a booklet to the Calverley close tenants and we are asking for feedback from the tenants via an online survey at: www.savills.com/CalverleyCloseFeedback
The earlier we get feedback the better to help inform the development of the options. We have asked tenants to try their best to get all responses in by Friday 24th April.
Tenants can also give their feedback over the phone by calling their Resident Liaison Officer, Mandy Rana on 07929 368 603, or email [email protected] to book an appointment with a member of the team.
Moving forward with tenant consultation
24 June 2019
In May 2019 we asked Tpas, an independent body which advises social landlords on effective tenant engagement, to review our tenant engagement on the estate so far. Tpas visited residents at Calverley Close to ask for their thoughts and opinions about the redevelopment proposals.
Following this review, Riverside is working in line with Tpas recommendations to begin re-engaging with tenants, move forward and build effective relationships.
The recommendations include the following:
- Being clear and transparent about why we can’t maintain the current estate and why we wish to redevelop it.
- Explaining to tenants the purpose of consulting (i.e. this is not a done deal).
- Reassuring tenants that repairs to homes will continue whilst development is underway.
- Appointing a new Independent Tenants Advisor (ITA).
- Setting out clear timelines on future engagement/consultation and to give feedback.
- Making sure information on our website and social media channels is up to date.
- Holding group events on different dates and at different times.
- Focusing on making contact by letter and one-to-one visits because that is what tenants prefer.
- Sharing this independent review report with tenants.
Riverside has appointed an Independent Tenant Advisor, called Source Partnership, to support tenants and provide independent advice. In July, Source will be door knocking at Calverley Close to talk to residents individually.
More information about Source Partnership can be found at www.sourcepartnership.com
Riverside is committed to making sure that everyone has an opportunity to get involved in the consultation process – to have their say on what the new estate could look like and, ultimately, to decide whether the plans should go ahead.
Please direct any questions or concerns to: [email protected]