Audrey Clarke has lived in Dennison Point on the Carpenters Estate for 40 years. But now her future is unclear as she gets caught up in plans for major redevelopment of an area that has been plagued by uncertainty for more than 20 years.

Audrey is one of a handful of people still living in three tower blocks, two that are to be refurbished, and one that faces demolition.

It’s a complicated situation in which there are bound to be winners and losers, as Newham Council and the developers they have appointed work hard to win the support of local people. They have to.

In order to secure vital Greater London Authority investment, they must carry out a ballot later this year to ensure that there is local backing for the scheme.

Audrey is hoping to stay. “I raised my two children on the estate and I don’t want to leave,” she said. “But it’s not clear if I’ll be able to afford to stay.”

Her concern is that when the work is finished and she is offered the chance to return, the existing rent will be raised with additional costs and this uncertainty remains a stumbling block for many residents.

Her neighbour June Benn a widow, and a former tenants’ leader, has lived on the estate for 50 years.

She lives in a three-bedroomed flat and is the only person occupying space on the 11th floor of Dennison Point, a high-rise due for demolition under the masterplan.

She is fiercely independent and not convinced by the current plans and is defiant over any pressure to move.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she told Newham Voices. “If they want to knock this place down they’ll have to get me out, and I’m not moving.”

As a leaseholder June was disappointed by the offer she received to leave her flat. She said it was not enough to buy a one-bedroom studio in Stratford – highlighting the hardcash realities of rehousing.

June has been closely involved with the future of the estate for many years. She was the first chair of the Tenant Management Organisation in the 1990s. Her husband Eddie who died five years ago also played a role in the organisation which, with council support, helped manage the estate until it was closed after the council withdrew funding in 2015.

After two decades of neglect and broken promises June is unconvinced that the latest plans will work. “I’ve seen it all before,” she said. “I have the original plan from 1998 and that went nowhere.”

The masterplan: 2500 new homes in next 15 years

The masterplan for Carpenters Estate sets out a grand vision of transformation.

The model of the future is available for viewing at the newly-opened Dovetail activity centre, situated at the heart of the estate.

The plans include the demolition of one of the three existing tower blocks – Dennison Point – and the renovation and modernisation of the other blocks plus the renewal of the low-rise accommodation.

The new drop-in and activity centre is open every day from noon and also includes a range of community activities, organised on a weekly or monthly basis.

Among the activities is a weekly arts class being organised by Ivy Aubynn, a freelance artist who lives in Doran Walk. She hopes the class will challenge ideas of art as an elite past-time and put out a positive message to the estate and help bring people together.

“There’s a really vibrant community spirit here,” she said. “We’re surrounded by gentrification but I don’t want us to lose the Carpenters legacy.”

Residents can visit the centre to discuss their concerns and see examples of possible 4-bedroom, 3-storey townhouses and the layout of rooms. There is also a film show setting out the plans for the regeneration.

In all, if it all goes according to plan, around 2,500 new homes will be available, including many “affordable Homes” (estimated to cost about 50 per cent of the existing market rates).

With 27,000 people on the housing waiting list, Newham Council hopes that the development will help reduce the pressure on accommodation in the borough.

Three offers have been prepared for tenants, home owners and those living in temporary accommodation. But many residents are still not clear about how the proposed changes will affect them and how they can best respond.

The questions are familiar for independent adviser Rob Williams who has been working to help residents since 2007. He is adamant that the concerns of residents must be answered.

“People must have choices and these are being worked on,” he said.

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