Housing Estates Improvement Programme 2015-2016
Summary Sheet
Ashcroft Square
Housing Officer: Gertrude Booty
Housing Office: Hammersmith
Contact: Vicki Bermingham, TRA Secretary
Project applied for: Improvement of
roof top areas including landscaping, planting
and amenity facilities including food-growing.
Approx. number of residents to benefit: 223 properties
Of which, Council tenants: 196 properties
Previous HEIP funding: In 1998/99 the estate received £15,000 for a play area.
Project Summary: The site is comprised of two raised open spaces above Kings
Mall Shopping Centre, visible from all properties. The smaller space (site plan 2) is
only accessible by residents and is currently not utilised. It was suggested that this
space could be used as a food growing area with planters, eco-building/meeting
space with a green roof, mural/artistic features and seating. The larger space (site
plan 1) has a lawn area and is open to the public. It is proposed that this space
could be improved through refurbishing and restocking existing planters and
provision of more planted areas and amenities such as seating and bins.
Sustainability: Breaking up the vast areas of hard concrete with more green areas
will allow for more sustainable water drainage and capture and provide habitats for
wildlife.
Community involvement and need: The residents suggested that the
improvements will benefit the environment visually and will benefit the community
by giving the communal area more purpose so that the residents with utilise it more.
The improvements were discussed between TRA members. The Lyric Theatre next
door has a similar roof-top amenity space but this is only accessible to customers.
The nearest publicly accessible green space, Ravenscourt Park, is a 10 minute
walk away.
Longevity: The residents are interested in having more community activities,
meetings and food growing activities using the spaces and would presumably
maintain the food growing beds.
Security and other site issues: There is currently an issue with water leaking form
the roof into the shopping mall below and LBHF are undertaking extensive
excavations and repair works to the deck. Therefore any improvement project
would be dependant on the loading capacity and conditions of the deck and would
be aligned with these structural repair works. The HEIP application included a
request for play equipment. The upper space was
previously occupied by play
equipment but it was removed due to resident complaints. Therefore we have not
included any play facilities in the current proposal but can consult with the wider
community and include if it is approved by the residents. There is a problem with
litter and dog mess in the larger area. The estate has poor lighting and there have
been issues with ASB on the private space and connecting stairwells and access is
limited. The residents also requested in the application to have better lighting
installed.
Maintenance requirements: LBHF have anticipated that there may be additional
maintenance cost implications yet to be confirmed.
Estimated costs:
Full capital project:
£50,000