Decent Makeover for Eric Allin Community Centre

Tuesday 29 July 2008

Paul Bridge, Homes for Haringey’s Chief Executive, joined local residents and its decent homes contractor partner, Lovell, for the reopening of the newly furbished Eric Allin community centre in Tottenham, last week.

The centre has also been painted and carpeted throughout and a new kitchen and office furniture have been installed.

Lovell will use it as a base while they work on over 3000 properties in North Tottenham as part of Haringey’s £200m decent homes programme. Residents will be able to pop in for a chat and a coffee, or simply to relax on the comfy sofas while their home is being refurbished. There’s also a display area showcasing a kitchen, bathroom, windows and floor coverings so residents can see the standard of fittings being installed in their property.

Paul Bridge with staff from Lovell and residents at the opening of the Eric Allin community centre

Elaine Sampson who lives at nearby St Mary’s Close, said the makeover was modern and marvellous. “The conversion of meeting areas and offices has made a huge difference. It’s so much more welcoming, brighter and there’s a brand new kitchen and a new entrance sign too. We are very pleased with the results.”

A celebratory lunch was held for local residents and the ‘Over 55s’ group which used the centre as their meeting place. Local councillors and members of the Safer Neighbourhood Team also attended.

The ‘Over 55s’ group has been temporarily relocated to the nearby Neighbourhood Resource Centre in Northumberland Park.

The centre will remain open during site hours to local residents. Once the decent homes programme is complete, Lovell will hand the centre back to Homes for Haringey for community use.

Steve Coombs, Regional Director of Lovell, said being located at the heart of the community was of mutual benefit to local residents and Lovell representatives and thanked residents for their support.

The centre is named after the late Eric Allin, a local resident who originally chaired the ‘Over 55’s’ social group.

Paul Bridge added: “This is a fantastic win-win partnership between our contractors, local residents and Homes for Haringey. The centre looks fantastic. The decent homes programme is a once in a generation opportunity for many Haringey tenants and I am especially pleased that eligible tenants have the opportunity to see first hand the high quality decent home improvements they will get.”

A display kitchen at the refurbished Eric Allin community centre

Notes to Editors

The £200m decent homes programme currently underway across the borough will see over 11,000 council homes improved under the refurbishment package.

Homes for Haringey is the Arms Length Management Organisation managing Haringey Council’s housing stock since April 2006. It is responsible for:

  • Meeting the Decent Home Standard
  • Services to approx 21,000 council owned properties: 16,700 tenanted and 4,500 leasehold
  • Tenancy and estate management
  • Housing management of supported housing
  • Rent collection and arrears management
  • Repairs and maintenance
  • Leasehold management
  • Resident involvement

To talk to someone about this news item, please contact us:

Email:communications@homesforharingey.org

Tel: 020 8489 2998

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