Pidgley joins sink estate task force

Berkeley Group chairman Tony Pidgley has joined a government task force to regenerate the country’s worst ‘sink estates’.

The 17-strong group is led by Lord Heseltine and housing minister Brandon Lewis and will report to prime minister David Cameron and communities secretary Greg Clark.

It will develop a national estate regeneration strategy to help regenerate 100 of the country’s most deprived estates.

The panel met for the first time yesterday (9 February) and will focus on how the layout of estates can be used to deliver better homes for people to buy and rent.

It will also work on putting protections in place for existing residents of the estates to give them the right to return to their communities.

The panel met at the York Road Estate in Battersea, London where plans are being developed for a major regeneration scheme.

It comes after Cameron announced last month that £140m would be made available in loan funding to jump-start the regeneration.

Commenting on the panel, Lord Heseltine said: “Estates regeneration is key to transforming the lives of people living on poorly designed housing projects.

“The panel will provide expert advice, support and explore innovative funding solutions to drive forward the regeneration of estates around the country.”

Housing minister Brandon Lewis said: “This panel provides a wealth of experience to kick-start work that will help transform the lives of thousands of people by delivering better homes in better estates.”