Ham Close estate, Richmond

192 homes are under threat of demolition at Richmond's Ham Close estate.

Ham Close estate was built by Richmond council in the 1960s and comprises 192 homes across 14 blocks. It was handed over to Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP) 20 years ago when the council transferred all of its housing stock to the group.

In 2013, RHP started consulting residents on options for the estate which included refurbishment, infill, partial and full redevelopment.

In 2016, RHP decided to take the refurbishment option off the table because it wouldn't provide any additional revenue for RHP: "The cost estimate for full refurbishment at Ham Close is around £8 million. RHP does not regard this as an acceptable amount to spend when we’re cutting back on funding other asset management schemes.The £8 million would not result in any new additional income for RHP."

RHP's offer to residents says that tenants will be offered the same rent structure as they currently enjoy but acknowledges that rents will be an increase because of increased property values.

Approximately 450 new homes are proposed but the scheme hasn't entered the detailed design consultation stage and there is no planning application or scoping appraisal yet submitted.

The scheme is being funded by the Mayor and has been granted an exemption from his requirement to ballot residents on the demolition of their homes.

In June 2021, RHP selected developer Hill as its development partner for the scheme.

Plans are now being drawn up and a planning application is expected to be submitted in due course.

More information is available on RHP's dedicated website for the scheme https://www.hamclose.co.uk/.