Dover Court, Islington regeneration

Lovell placed the community at the heart of its development of 70 new properties, alongside the enhancement of the public realm, in North London. The tenure-blind mix of homes for council rent and for sale were built on nine sites within an estate.

Project

Dover Court, Islington

Location

Islington, London

Partners

London Borough of Islington

Value

£22 million

• Contracting to London Borough of Islington, new homes on Council owned land

• Estate regeneration - 70 new homes over nine sites

• New energy efficient housing

• Tenure blind housing including purpose-built apartments for the over 55’s

• Dedicated website https://dovercourtregeneration.co.uk/

This regeneration programme in North London includes homes on council-owned land for social rent and for sale, as well as improved open spaces, play areas and community facilities. The energy-efficient housing was built tenure-blind on nine sites within the estate, including former garages and car parking. The existing Romford House is also being replaced with a new purpose-built development for residents aged over 55.

In Islington, like the rest of London, we’re facing a huge housing crisis. We desperately need more genuinely affordable housing and that’s why we’re building 51 new council homes at Dover Court for local people. Alongside the new homes, the new play areas and green spaces will improve the estate for all its residents.

Cllr James Murray, Executive Member for Housing and Development, London Borough of Islington

Responding to community need

The community was at the heart of the process throughout, with a constant commitment to improving the environment, enhancing the community space, protecting and developing people:

• The development achieved Secured by Design accreditation.

• Job opportunities were advertised to local people via the resident newsletter and the Dover Court regeneration website.

• All homes were designed to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, incorporating sustainable, energy-efficient technology designed to keep energy bills down.

• We ensured that there was no loss in the number of trees across the estate, putting measures in place to protect all the retained trees.

• We increased planting and green spaces and redesigned the park with new children’s play areas, paths, trees and a replacement ball games space.

• We created a dedicated Dover Court website to share information with residents and local people regarding the regeneration programme.

• We asked residents to vote online for the names of two of the new blocks; they chose Woodford Mews and Kelvedon Mews.

Children living on the estate were invited to take part in a project to create a unique piece of artwork to be used on site hoardings, with prizes for everyone who joined in. The theme, ball games, was chosen to reflect the new ball court where the hoarding was used and the bright colours made an eye-catching mural for the whole estate to enjoy. The project was a runner-up in the CCS Ivor Goodsite Hoarding Competition.

Other community activities organised by Lovell at Dover Court included a Macmillan Coffee Morning, giving residents the chance to speak to the site team, and a Christmas raffle for all residents.

We also installed a scooter charging station inside our compound for local residents to use instead of charging their mobility scooters outside their property with the window open in cold weather.