Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Demolition starts at 1–87 Regina Road, Croydon, marking a key milestone in the transformation of the estate following years of safety concerns.
Level by level, the block will be demolished over the course of the upcoming months to prepare for the subsequent regeneration phase.
Lewis, 23, who grew up on the estate, is beginning his career in construction as part of this. With assistance from Croydon Council’s jobs brokerage staff, he obtained his Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card after completing an online training course offered by Colemans, the demolition contractors for Regina Road.
Lewis will start his paid work experience with Colemans at Regina Road, where he grew up, in September after receiving this certificate. An apprenticeship with Colemans and the chance to advance with the National Federation of Demolition Contractors could result from this.
During a site visit that included members of the Regina Road project team and Jason Perry, the Executive Mayor of Croydon, he was given his certificate by Colemans.
The social value initiative of Croydon Council ensures that contractors not only complete the primary work but also help the community.
This covers training, new employment, and assistance with neighborhood projects. As part of this commitment, Colemans is supporting Lewis by giving him opportunities both during and after the Regina Road demolition.
Lewis said:
“I have tried the conventional job search approach, but recently I have overhauled my method to focus on meeting people directly. Demo work appeals to me because it allows me to work outside and get fresh air.”
Andy Crawford, project manager at Colemans, said:
“Working with Croydon residents like Lewis is a big part of how we deliver social value. The Regina Road regeneration is an important project for this community and giving local people the chance to work on it helps build skills and creates opportunities that last beyond the demolition. We are pleased to be supporting Lewis as he starts his career in construction.”
About 340 new residences, landscaped grounds, a preschool, and a new community building are all part of the two-phase redevelopment project. Phase one, which has been funded by a £54 million Greater London Authority grant, will include at least 225 new affordable Council houses.
The complete planning application has also been filed by Croydon Council. Later this year, Croydon’s planning committee will consider the ideas. The ideas have been shaped with input from the residents, who will also be engaged in selecting the contractor for the subsequent regeneration phase.
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon said:
“The start of structural demolition at Regina Road marks a huge step forward in delivering the regeneration that residents have been waiting for. Regenerating Regina Road has been a priority for me and is a key part of my plan to make Croydon a cleaner, safer and healthier borough, a place we are all proud to call home.
Seeing residents like Lewis benefit directly from this project shows how it is creating opportunities as well as new homes and why getting this right matters so much to the community.”
Why was 1–87 Regina Road chosen as the first block to be demolished?
1–87 Regina Road was branded as the worst part of the estate, with deteriorated infrastructure and ongoing maintenance issues, making it unsafe and unsuitable for living.
This block was prioritized for demolition to start the regeneration process as this block could be demolished more quickly than others, allowing the developer to start building new housing sooner and stimulate momentum for the rest of the estate.
Choosing this block to start aligns with the phased sequence of knock down and reconstruction and allowed clearer management of both residents and contractors. The external consultants used various reports and consultations, surveys, and assessments to determine extremes of risk and care, and 1–87 Regina Road represented the highest extreme of risk and urgency compared to other blocks.