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Ham Close compulsory purchase order

The regeneration of Ham Close (the scheme) has been a priority for many years.

We are working in partnership with Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP), the owner of the existing homes at Ham Close to carry out the scheme in conjunction with a development partner, Hill Residential Limited (Hill). RHP is a not-for-profit housing association that aims to provide quality, affordable homes and housing related services to people unable to rent or buy in the private housing market.

Hill, as delivery partner for RHP, submitted a planning application for the scheme on 29 April 2022. Planning permission was subsequently granted on 22 March 2023. The scheme aligns with relevant planning policy and delivers the objectives of the London Plan, Local Plan, and Ham and Petersham Neighbourhood Plan.

Working with RHP we have consulted widely on the scheme and have undertaken an extensive engagement exercise with existing residents of Ham Close, as well as other stakeholders.

Background

On 11 October 2023 the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (“the Council”) submitted the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames (Ham Close) Compulsory Purchase Order 2023 (“the Order”) to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (“the Secretary of State”) for confirmation.

On 29 November 2023, the Secretary of State directed the Council to give public notice of his intention to give a certificate before he reaches a decision in relation to the land comprising open space, to afford an opportunity for representations and objections to be made.  On Thursday 14 December 2023 the Council started this notification period.

Current situation

On 13 February 2024 the Secretary of gave notice enabling the Council to confirm the Order.

In addition, the Secretary of State issued a certificate in relation to the open space.

On 20 March 2024 we confirmed the Order and on 28 March 2024 published notice of the same in the Richmond and Twickenham Times newspaper. It is on this date that the Order became operative.

As and when the Council implements its compulsory purchase powers, those people and businesses with interests affected by the same will be formally notified.

Benefits of the scheme

Key benefits of the scheme include:

  • The provision of 452 new homes
  • No loss of social/affordable housing, with all existing social/affordable housing re-provided and 78 additional affordable housing homes
  • Accessibility improvement for residents
  • Each home will have access to dedicated private amenity space in the form of balconies, terraces or private gardens
  • The proposals include 14,675m2 of public open space including a new Linear Park, which provides the key green infrastructure running through the heart of the site, linking the development to Ham Village Green
  • Children’s play space incorporated throughout the scheme, providing a total of 1,744m2 for children aged 0 to 11 years within the new open space
  • A new MakerLabs building, which is both larger in area and more functional in layout than the existing
  • A new community centre building managed by AfC which will be larger and contain modern, functional facilities and spaces, in a more accessible location
  • In-built energy and sustainability measures
  • Over £8m in Community Infrastructure Levy payments and section 106 contributions towards various measures including improvement to local healthcare infrastructure, off-site gym and play equipment, replacement tree planting and improvements to Ham Village Green

We support the scheme and wish it to be brought forward to deliver much needed homes for residents.

In order to deliver the regeneration of Ham Close we have made a compulsory purchase order (CPO) – copies of the relevant documents are provided below. The CPO permits the acquisition of all freehold and leasehold interests in the land and buildings at Ham Close. We will be submitting the Order to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up Housing and Communities for confirmation. If confirmed by the Secretary of State, the Order will enable us to acquire the Order Land to undertake the comprehensive regeneration of Ham Close in accordance with adopted planning policy and a planning permission.

What properties are being considered for CPO

Ham Close consists of 14 blocks of flats constructed in the early 1960s comprising 192 flats, three garage blocks and associated parking and grassed areas, 11 outbuildings containing 108 sheds. There is also a youth centre, a facility containing Richmond Makerlabs and two highways maintainable at public expense. Most of the land within Ham Close is already owned by us or RHP. The CPO includes powers to acquire the remaining land in Ham Close, as well as new rights required for the construction of the scheme.

The land to be compulsorily acquired includes:

  • 26 flats which are all owned on a long leasehold originally acquired through statutory right to buy; 
  • Two electricity substations; and
  • Unregistered land comprising hardstanding and access road leading from the car park adjacent to Ham Village Green to Ashburnham Road

The proposed new rights to be acquired to allow construction of the scheme include:

  • Areas required for crane oversailing during the construction period;
  • Access on to adjacent land, erection of scaffolding/scaffolding fans/hoarding and work to party walls during the construction period; and
  • Rights to lay, repair, use and maintain new and existing services

Negotiations

RHP published a Customer Offer in 2016 which ensures that all RHP leaseholders and tenants have a right to remain living at Ham Close and will be offered a property in the new development. RHP has been in contact with affected parties seeking to acquire their properties in accordance with the Customer Offer and in December 2019, RHP started acquiring properties using the Customer Offer. Whilst a number of interests within the scheme have been acquired by agreement, a number of negotiations have not yet concluded. Given the outstanding negotiations (and in line with government guidance), RHP have made the CPO to ensure the timely delivery of the scheme.

Throughout the CPO process we will continue to work with RHP to negotiate with all affected parties to try to acquire interests by agreement.

The site includes small areas of public open space and as these are included within the CPO there are specific statutory provisions which apply. New rights are required over this land to allow temporary works over small areas of Ham Village Green during construction. There will be no impact on the long term use Ham Village Green and any necessary closures will be temporary and limited to small areas of the Village Green.

For any questions or clarifications please contact:

Ham Close Regeneration 
FAO Simon Cavanagh, Regeneration Manager
RHP Property LTD
8 Waldegrave Road
Teddington
TW11 8GT

Telephone: 0800 032 2433 – Please ask to be put through to Simon Cavanagh, Regeneration Manager, RHP

Email: customer.services@rhp.org.uk – Please mark your email FAO Simon Cavanagh, Regeneration Manager, RHP

Main CPO documents

Documents referred to in the Statement of Reasons

Documents and reports referred to in the statement of reasons.

Open space application

Plans and drawings

Reports and authorisations

Planning policy and guidance documents

Other policy and guidance documents

Planning permission and supporting documents

Other scheme-related documents

Up to: Regeneration projects

Updated: 28 March 2024

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