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| 'It’s social cleansing': the 93-year-old fighting east London demolitions | 'It’s social cleansing': the 93-year-old fighting east London demolitions |
| (6 months later) | |
| In Whitechapel, residents say their campaign against the possible bulldozing of their council homes is a battle over the future of housing | |
| Diane Taylor | |
| Fri 28 Jul 2017 07.00 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 19.22 GMT | |
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| Sophie Spielman has a habit of patting her thick grey and white hair while she talks, to ensure it looks tidy. At almost 93, this diminutive, softly spoken woman is not only the oldest resident in her council block in Whitechapel, east London, but also the one who has lived there the longest. | Sophie Spielman has a habit of patting her thick grey and white hair while she talks, to ensure it looks tidy. At almost 93, this diminutive, softly spoken woman is not only the oldest resident in her council block in Whitechapel, east London, but also the one who has lived there the longest. |
| Originally from India, she moved to the building in 1962 when she married Nathan Spielman, known as Nat, a committed socialist who as a teenager had acted against the fascist politician Oswald Mosley during the nearby battle of Cable Street. | Originally from India, she moved to the building in 1962 when she married Nathan Spielman, known as Nat, a committed socialist who as a teenager had acted against the fascist politician Oswald Mosley during the nearby battle of Cable Street. |
| Nat had been the first person to move into the brand-new flat in 1959, and when Spielman joined him she fell in love with the three-bedroom, two-storey maisonette, which was brick-built to a high specification with “all mod cons”. After Nat died in 1982 she stayed on, assuming she would live out the rest of her days in the flat where she felt safe and supported by her neighbours. | Nat had been the first person to move into the brand-new flat in 1959, and when Spielman joined him she fell in love with the three-bedroom, two-storey maisonette, which was brick-built to a high specification with “all mod cons”. After Nat died in 1982 she stayed on, assuming she would live out the rest of her days in the flat where she felt safe and supported by her neighbours. |
| We’re at a fork in the road – a post-Grenfell moment | We’re at a fork in the road – a post-Grenfell moment |
| But now the Whitechapel estate has become almost overnight a frontline in the battle to preserve a dwindling supply of council housing in the borough of Tower Hamlets. And as local residents push back against a proposal that could result in their homes being bulldozed to make way for a mix of private and social housing, their fight has captured the attention of campaigners far beyond this corner of the capital. | But now the Whitechapel estate has become almost overnight a frontline in the battle to preserve a dwindling supply of council housing in the borough of Tower Hamlets. And as local residents push back against a proposal that could result in their homes being bulldozed to make way for a mix of private and social housing, their fight has captured the attention of campaigners far beyond this corner of the capital. |
| Eileen Short, of the campaign group Defend Council Housing, said: “We have identified approximately 80 council estates across London that, like this one, are threatened with demolition. And there are others across England. What is happening here is a battle over the future of our housing. | Eileen Short, of the campaign group Defend Council Housing, said: “We have identified approximately 80 council estates across London that, like this one, are threatened with demolition. And there are others across England. What is happening here is a battle over the future of our housing. |
| “We’re at a fork in the road – a post-Grenfell moment. We need to use public land to meet the acute and growing housing crisis, and we need to say to the private developers: your model doesn’t work for our communities.” | “We’re at a fork in the road – a post-Grenfell moment. We need to use public land to meet the acute and growing housing crisis, and we need to say to the private developers: your model doesn’t work for our communities.” |
| The two Whitechapel blocks that may be demolished are Treves House, named after the doctor who cared for Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, and neighbouring Lister House. The reason the council has given for considering the demolition of the 52 homes close to Whitechapel station is the spiralling cost of repairs. | The two Whitechapel blocks that may be demolished are Treves House, named after the doctor who cared for Joseph Merrick, known as the Elephant Man, and neighbouring Lister House. The reason the council has given for considering the demolition of the 52 homes close to Whitechapel station is the spiralling cost of repairs. |
| Leaseholders have been sent a series of bills for planned repairs, the cost of which has escalated dramatically in the last few years. At first, a few years ago, they were told the repairs would require just over £20,000 per flat, but a few weeks ago the cost jumped to £120,000 per flat. Council officials have used this high figure as justification to the proposal to demolish the homes. | Leaseholders have been sent a series of bills for planned repairs, the cost of which has escalated dramatically in the last few years. At first, a few years ago, they were told the repairs would require just over £20,000 per flat, but a few weeks ago the cost jumped to £120,000 per flat. Council officials have used this high figure as justification to the proposal to demolish the homes. |
| Residents were informed of the plans at a meeting on 28 June. Tower Hamlets’ elected mayor, John Biggs, admitted that the option of building private flats on the land was under consideration, and that discussions had been going on for a year behind closed doors. | Residents were informed of the plans at a meeting on 28 June. Tower Hamlets’ elected mayor, John Biggs, admitted that the option of building private flats on the land was under consideration, and that discussions had been going on for a year behind closed doors. |
| “If we find that [demolition is] a better deal, we have a duty to look at that. You would have to do a deal in which you would build a large number of properties – you would build 100 or something and sell off a large chunk,” says Biggs. He claims that building some flats for sale on the open market on the land where Lister and Treves now stand would generate enough income to also provide some social housing on the site. | “If we find that [demolition is] a better deal, we have a duty to look at that. You would have to do a deal in which you would build a large number of properties – you would build 100 or something and sell off a large chunk,” says Biggs. He claims that building some flats for sale on the open market on the land where Lister and Treves now stand would generate enough income to also provide some social housing on the site. |
| A report by Tower Hamlets council proposing demolition says knocking down the existing properties would fit in with the council’s community plan, “creating opportunity by supporting aspiration and tackling poverty”. The borough has one of the longest waiting lists in London for council housing, at 22,000 people. | A report by Tower Hamlets council proposing demolition says knocking down the existing properties would fit in with the council’s community plan, “creating opportunity by supporting aspiration and tackling poverty”. The borough has one of the longest waiting lists in London for council housing, at 22,000 people. |
| However, residents say the proposal is an act of “social cleansing” because they won’t be able to afford the rents or purchase prices of any new housing there. With Whitechapel so close to London’s financial centre, and with an increasing number of luxury flats being built in the area, many homes are being snapped up by well-paid City workers. The advent of Crossrail has further boosted the value of real estate in the area. Researchers say local property prices could increase by more than 50% between 2014 and 2020 as a result of proximity to the new rail infrastructure. | However, residents say the proposal is an act of “social cleansing” because they won’t be able to afford the rents or purchase prices of any new housing there. With Whitechapel so close to London’s financial centre, and with an increasing number of luxury flats being built in the area, many homes are being snapped up by well-paid City workers. The advent of Crossrail has further boosted the value of real estate in the area. Researchers say local property prices could increase by more than 50% between 2014 and 2020 as a result of proximity to the new rail infrastructure. |
| While this estate isn’t the only one in London battling against regeneration, this particular fight is remarkable for the way in which residents from a range of ethnic and religious backgrounds and across different generations have united to try to preserve their homes and an important slice of East End history. | While this estate isn’t the only one in London battling against regeneration, this particular fight is remarkable for the way in which residents from a range of ethnic and religious backgrounds and across different generations have united to try to preserve their homes and an important slice of East End history. |
| This fight isn’t just about money. Our lives and our families are in these council blocks | This fight isn’t just about money. Our lives and our families are in these council blocks |
| Spielman has joined forces with residents in many of the other flats. A series of impromptu meetings have been held in her living room, which residents joke is the HQ of the campaign. Other campaigners include a British-Bangladeshi resident, Khayrun Begum, 49, and council tenant Kay Ballard, also 49, who says she can trace her Cockney roots back through seven generations. | Spielman has joined forces with residents in many of the other flats. A series of impromptu meetings have been held in her living room, which residents joke is the HQ of the campaign. Other campaigners include a British-Bangladeshi resident, Khayrun Begum, 49, and council tenant Kay Ballard, also 49, who says she can trace her Cockney roots back through seven generations. |
| Begum says she was the first Asian resident on the estate. “I endured so much racism in the early days,” she says. “Neighbours complained when I cooked curry and all sorts of things like that. But after a while our understanding of each other’s different backgrounds and cultures grew, and now we’re all good friends and neighbours and we support each other.” | Begum says she was the first Asian resident on the estate. “I endured so much racism in the early days,” she says. “Neighbours complained when I cooked curry and all sorts of things like that. But after a while our understanding of each other’s different backgrounds and cultures grew, and now we’re all good friends and neighbours and we support each other.” |
| Begum moved to the estate in 1984, got married and worked at home doing sewing. “A neighbour and councillor, Sue Carlyle, encouraged me to get out of the house and get some qualifications. She changed my life. I did community work and then started my own business. This fight isn’t just about money. Our lives and our families are in these council blocks,” she says. | Begum moved to the estate in 1984, got married and worked at home doing sewing. “A neighbour and councillor, Sue Carlyle, encouraged me to get out of the house and get some qualifications. She changed my life. I did community work and then started my own business. This fight isn’t just about money. Our lives and our families are in these council blocks,” she says. |
| Ballard is also determined to fight the possibility of demolition. “I used to be a postwoman and now I’m a Scouts and Guides leader. We are all working together on this. From time to time we have our squabbles, but when push comes to shove we all stick together stronger than the Berlin Wall.” | Ballard is also determined to fight the possibility of demolition. “I used to be a postwoman and now I’m a Scouts and Guides leader. We are all working together on this. From time to time we have our squabbles, but when push comes to shove we all stick together stronger than the Berlin Wall.” |
| All three women say they don’t trust the council to act in the best interests of residents. Those who bought their council flats – currently valued at around £350,000 for a two-bed – know that any new flats of a similar size built on the land will sell for twice the price. | All three women say they don’t trust the council to act in the best interests of residents. Those who bought their council flats – currently valued at around £350,000 for a two-bed – know that any new flats of a similar size built on the land will sell for twice the price. |
| In a statement, a spokesperson for Tower Hamlets council said: “The council is currently considering the future of Lister and Treves, but absolutely no decisions have been taken. We are committed to talking about the different options, but we are aware that the scale of the problems and the amount of work required to refurbish these properties could be unaffordable for many of the leaseholders who have purchased their flat.” | In a statement, a spokesperson for Tower Hamlets council said: “The council is currently considering the future of Lister and Treves, but absolutely no decisions have been taken. We are committed to talking about the different options, but we are aware that the scale of the problems and the amount of work required to refurbish these properties could be unaffordable for many of the leaseholders who have purchased their flat.” |
| The statement added that Biggs had written to all residents this week making “the commitment that they will be consulted before any future proposals, and that a working group will be established to explore refurbishment costs and redevelopment options in detail”. | The statement added that Biggs had written to all residents this week making “the commitment that they will be consulted before any future proposals, and that a working group will be established to explore refurbishment costs and redevelopment options in detail”. |
| Elsewhere in the borough, the council has already embarked on two other regeneration projects, at Ocean Estate and Robin Hood Gardens. At the latter, 207 existing council homes and 45 private homes will be replaced with around 1,575 new homes, 679 of which have been earmarked as affordable. | Elsewhere in the borough, the council has already embarked on two other regeneration projects, at Ocean Estate and Robin Hood Gardens. At the latter, 207 existing council homes and 45 private homes will be replaced with around 1,575 new homes, 679 of which have been earmarked as affordable. |
| However, “affordable” rents are often not affordable for council tenants and are higher than “social” rents, as well as providing less secure tenancies than council tenants enjoy. “It’s social cleansing,” says Syed Ali, another Treves House resident. “We won’t be able to afford to live in our own neighbourhood.” | However, “affordable” rents are often not affordable for council tenants and are higher than “social” rents, as well as providing less secure tenancies than council tenants enjoy. “It’s social cleansing,” says Syed Ali, another Treves House resident. “We won’t be able to afford to live in our own neighbourhood.” |
| As for Spielman, she is adamant that she is going nowhere. “The only way they will get me to go is if they carry me out,” she says. “I’m happy here and I’ve been happy here for 55 years. I can’t imagine life anywhere else.” | As for Spielman, she is adamant that she is going nowhere. “The only way they will get me to go is if they carry me out,” she says. “I’m happy here and I’ve been happy here for 55 years. I can’t imagine life anywhere else.” |
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