œ25m estates contract won

The œ25 million contract to regenerate four run-down housing estates in Clapton has been awarded to the Clapton Community Housing Trust, a consortium comprising United House, The Guinness Trust, New Islington & Hackney Housing Association, Ujima HA and architects Pollard, Thomas & Edwards.

The project for the London Borough of Hackney involves over 1,000 dwellings on the Wigan House, Northwold, Southwold and High Hill Estates. The Trust aims to set up a non-profit making housing company. The scheme is part of the Government's new strategy to attract private finance into the regeneration of urban estates by transferring their management into the private sector.

Three other consortia tendered for the scheme including Laing Homes and Lovell Partnerships. Hackney intends to put a further 3,500 homes out to tender later this year.