- Poplar HARCA
Poplar HARCA (Housing and Regeneration Community Association) is a
Registered Social Landlord in theEast End of London , England. It is the landlord of about 8,500 homes in the Poplar area, a quarter of which have been soldleasehold ; the remainder are let on assured tenancies at subsidised rent levels.Poplar HARCA was set up by the
London Borough of Tower Hamlets to regenerate the area, especially certain Council estates whose residents voted to transfer to the new body. Parts of seven estates (about 4,500 homes) transferred to Poplar HARCA in 1998. The following year, tenants on further estates voted to remain with the Council. However, after a lengthy consultation of all Council estates in Tower Hamlets begun in 2002, several more estates in Poplar did transfer between 2005 and 2007. The final ballots were on several estates in East India ward, with a 78% majority in favour of transfer in 2006, [ [http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/templates/news/detail.cfm?newsid=8625 'Better quality of life'] , Tower Hamlets Council,2007-12-18 ] including the iconicBalfron Tower ; and Coventry Cross Estate with 65% in 2007. [ [http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/templates/news/detail.cfm?newsid=8625 Coventry Cross Estate vote in favour to transfer to Poplar HARCA] , Tower Hamlets,2007-12-14 ]The association focuses on community regeneration as part of its core mission, with a Neighbourhood Centre on each estate, and is the official provider of youth work activities in Poplar. [ [http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/templates/services/services-detail.cfm?sid=2345 Youth support service] , Tower Hamlets ] It also offers advice and support on benefits and job seeking, running courses such as Basic Skills, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Information Technology and customised training courses. [ [http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/data/caring-for-you/data/life-events/downloads/English-FindingWork.pdf FindingWork.pdf] , Tower Hamlets]
An
Audit Commission inspection in 2007 awarded Poplar HARCA two stars out of three, with "promising prospects for improvement". [ [http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/authority.asp?CategoryID=ENGLISH^1628^LOCAL-VIEW^AUTHORITIES^3822 Inspection report] by theAudit Commission ]The Chief Executive of Poplar HARCA is Steve Stride. The Chair of the Board is Christine Searle MBE, a resident on the Lincoln Estate. The constitution allows for 18 board members including ten resident directors (tenants or leaseholders), two local councillors and up to six independent members. However this model of governance is being changed. [http://www.poplarharca.co.uk/Aboutus/Boardmembers]
Awards
* Winner of the
Housing Corporation 's 2007 Gold Award for Empowering Communities [ [http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server.php?show=nav.2303&PHPSESSID=14ce6c3b05749478a031acbcb8f4d447 2007 Gold Awards] on Housing Corporation website]* Finalist of Inbiz
National Housing Federation 2006 Housing Awards - Best Neighbour [ [http://www.neighbourhoodawards.org.uk/entries/shortlist06.php 2006 Awards] on NHF website]* In partnership with Lincoln Area Regeneration Group, 2006 Green Pennant awarded for Chiltern Green [ [http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/archive/presscentre/green_spaces.asp 2006 Green Pennant] at Countryside.gov.uk]
* In partnership with Lincoln Area Regeneration Group, Highly Commended in
Chartered Institute of Housing 2004 UK Housing Award for Best Led Community Initiative - Chiltern Green [ [http://www.cih.org/news/winners.htm 2004 Winners] on CIH website (retrieved8 Oct 2008 )]* 2001 Commendation for Best in Community Regeneration - BURA Charitable Trust [ [http://www.bura.org.uk/awards/award2004/comwin_previous.htm BURA 2001 winners] , sponsored by
English Partnerships ]* In partnership with
Countryside plc , Burdett Estate renewal was voted Best Partnership Development in the 2001 "What House?" Awards [ [http://www.countryside-properties-corporate.com/assets/x/50273 Countryside PLC wins award for Burdett Estate] ]External links
* [http://www.poplarharca.co.uk/Home Poplar HARCA homepage]
* [http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/ConRSL.1664 2006 Statistics] at theHousing Corporation website
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/3119025.stm Teviot Estate in pictures] at BBC News websiteReferences
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