New community centre for Wood Green

Friday 22 May 2009

Following the success of the Eastfield Community Centre which was opened last December, plans are under way to create a third community space in the borough, funded by Homes for Haringey’s decent homes programme.

A former social club venue in Commerce Road, Wood Green has been identified as having excellent potential as a community hub for local residents. The building has lain derelict for a number of years, and is more than ready for a new lease of life.

Homes for Haringey hosted a consultation meeting in April for local residents to find out more and to express their views. A follow-up meeting is being held in June to discuss the ideas further.

When the plans get the official go-ahead, Mulalley, Homes for Haringey’s constructor partner for the Wood Green area, will fully refurbish the building. To begin with, they will use part of it as a site office. Once the decent homes programme is finished, the entire building will be handed over to the community.

Treasurer and Acting Secretary of Commerce Road Residents’ Association, Teresa Orosun-Gay, said: "Everyone is very keen to see this building back up and running, and in community use. It has been an eyesore for far too long, and it will be fantastic to see it have a positive future at the heart of the community.”

Ola Akinfe, Executive Director of Asset Management at Homes for Haringey said, "We’ve seen from the Eastfield Community Centre that this is a win-win situation that benefits everyone. Mulalley will have a proper site office for the duration of the decent homes works and, more importantly, local residents will have the benefit of a fully refurbished building for community use.”

Bruce Benson, Operations Director of Mulalley, said: "We will be only too pleased to work with local residents and Homes for Haringey to get this property back into community use again. It will be a lasting legacy after the decent homes work is finished, and we will be very proud to have been part of that.”

For more information on the decent homes programme, visit our decent homes pages or ring 020 8489 1778.

End

Notes for editors

Homes for Haringey is the Arms Length Management Organisation managing Haringey Council’s housing stock.

It is responsible for:

  • 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
  • Meeting the Decent Homes Standard.

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