Residents of a South West London estate say they are desperate for it to be regenerated as families live in overcrowded flats plagued by damp and mould, without any lifts. 

Richmond Council approved plans to bulldoze and rebuild Ham Close Estate, in Ham, in December last year.

The council built the estate in the early 1960s but transferred it, along with all other housing stock it owned, to social landlord Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP) in 2000.

The scheme from RHP and developer Hill Residential involves knocking down and rebuilding the 192-home estate with 452 new homes, including 221 affordable homes, community facilities and green spaces.

The scheme has the final go-ahead after Mayor of London Sadiq Khan green-lit the council's earlier decision to approve it in February this year.

People living on the estate told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) they had heard about the regeneration for years, and claimed residents are living in damp and overcrowded flats. 

The regeneration will take place in three phases, with construction expected to begin by October this year and last until 2031. Most RHP tenants are set to be moved straight into their new homes when they are ready.

Ham Close estate, Ham. Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon

Emelye Offin, 28, sleeps on a sofa bed with her husband in the living room of their one-bed flat, while their two daughters share the bedroom. She has lived on the estate for 10 years.

The mum told the LDRS: "It's hard, nobody has their own space. The reason we did it is because my eldest one's five and she needs her own space, so they have a room. But it's hard not having space, even if me and my husband have a disagreement we both have to sit in the same room, we have no space just to cool off from each other, and the flat's absolutely riddled with damp."

She added: "All of the flats are riddled with damp, and when it comes to winter seasons especially [one of the kids] gets so sick – she gets really bad coughs and colds. She has an inhaler for it."

Along with buying a dehumidifier in efforts to tackle the damp and mould, Ms Offin said: "We've used anti-condensation paint, that didn't work. We constantly use sugar soap to clean it, it comes back. It just constantly comes back."

The mum said her block is included in the final phase of the regeneration so she is concerned about the length of time it will take to be moved, and that the regeneration plans had already been "going on so long".

She said: "Now because they know they're knocking [the estate] down, it's like what's the point in doing anything about them… but this block I think is phase three, it's the last."

Ms Offin said she had tried to find another property on HomeSwapper, which council and housing association tenants use to switch homes, but that it was "impossible". She said: "Nobody wants a first-floor flat where there's no lift."

Throwing her support behind the regeneration, she added: "We already know we'd be guaranteed a two-bedroom as well, so we'd automatically get a bigger flat. So, for us, the benefit of them being knocked down is that we automatically get a bigger place."

RHP said it plans to move tenants into their new homes on the estate first, from August 2025, depending on their housing need, location and availability of the correct-sized home. It said it continues to carry out repairs for tenants, including investigating damp and mould.

Mandy Jenkins, 64, said residents in situations such as Ms Offin's should be rehoused as soon as possible in any spare properties available after the first phase is completed. She said an elderly woman living on the top floor of another block should also be moved as a priority as she struggles to use stairs and there are no lifts on the estate, while caretakers must "take her shopping up for her". 

Mandy Jenkins, 64, on the Ham Close estate. Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon

Under the regeneration, Ms Jenkins said it "doesn't matter if she's on the fourth or fifth floor because she's going to have a lift, but at the moment she hasn't and she just needs help".

She added: "I know the council has got to house other people, but not when people are here that are living in these conditions that have got to be rehoused anyway."

Ms Jenkins has lived on the estate for around 30 years and said she "can't wait" for it to be regenerated due to "all the damp", "black mould" and "overcrowding". She claimed her block has "concrete cancer", the "stairs are crumbling away" and nothing else can be done to properly fix the issues. "It's just done," she said.

The resident said she has "absolutely horrendous" mould in her bathroom, and that damp in her flat had previously reached a point where she could "see the water running down the walls".

She said she feels the conditions affect her health, and that she had contracted pneumonia multiple times while living there.

She claimed she had heard about plans to regenerate the estate for around 20 years, but locals who did not live there had put "obstacles in the way". 

She said: "There's so many people that live around here that have got so much money, that don't care how other people are living and they just don't want it to change. I can understand that, but it's got to change."

Lib Dem councillor Jim Millard, lead member for housing, said at a council meeting in July this year that the authority "believes that investing in the homes of existing social housing residents is just as important as creating new social housing".

He announced the council would only give housing grants for new developments to housing associations that engage with its new five-point social housing improvement plan.

The plan includes investing in existing homes by tackling disrepair, damp and mould, improving repairs services and communal areas, centring residents' voices in decision-making and investing in sustainability by retrofitting homes to improve their energy efficiency.

Amir Tarifi, 56, also told the LDRS the estate should be regenerated due to the age and condition of the buildings. He said "every flat" on the estate has problems with damp and mould. He described mould as "dangerous" and added "it's very bad for your lungs".

Mr Tarifi, who has lived on the estate for six years, said: "We've complained a lot of times to RHP, but they can't do anything because [it's] about the building." He added: "What is inside the wall is old so they can't do anything, we just keep cleaning."

But he raised concerns about the impact of long-term construction works on residents. He said: "It's going to be too much noise and dust and things, and because it's a big construction it's not an easy job."

RHP said a construction environment management plan will be in place to minimise the impact of works on residents. Julian Chun, executive director of homes at RHP, said the organisation had worked closely with the council on the regeneration, including extensive consultation with residents and the wider community for the last 10 years.

He said: "The focus has been on creating a sustainable new development that meets current and future local housing needs. Benefits include more private and community outdoor spaces, apprenticeship opportunities, construction jobs for local people and a 23 per cent biodiversity gain for the site.

"We're delighted this has recently resulted in our development partner Hill securing planning permission and we're now working with TPAS [the national Tenant Participation Advisory Service] and the resident engagement panel to review our customer offer to Ham Close residents, to deliver it in a fair way.

"We understand each customer will have their own questions and concerns about their offer of a new home, so starting this autumn, our regeneration team will meet every household to take the time to listen before making any arrangements for moving individuals. All being well, RHP customers will be the first to be moved from August 2025 depending on their housing need, location, and availability of the correct sized home.

"Ahead of the redevelopment, we have invested millions into the estate and continue to operate our repairs service for customers. This service includes responding to and investigating reports of damp and mould, which we take very seriously. We would urge any customers experiencing damp and mould to contact us immediately by emailing [email protected] or calling 0800 032 2433."

RHP said its regeneration team works from its Ham Close office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, where residents are encouraged to ask questions about the consultation and progress on the scheme.

A Hill Group spokesperson added: "We recognise how urgently high-quality new homes are needed at Ham Close, and we are working with the council to discharge the pre-commencement conditions as soon as possible so we can start on site.

"The regeneration of Ham Close is due to deliver 452 brand new homes, 10pc of which will be wheelchair accessible. The plans include homes for all existing tenants, plus new private sale, affordable rent, London Living rent, and shared ownership homes. The regeneration will also bring new community facilities such as recreation and play areas, and a community centre, creating a revitalised place for current and future communities to call home."