New homes and job creation focus of Plan for Tottenham (From Haringey Independent)

New homes and job creation focus of Plan for Tottenham

2:03pm Wednesday 1st August 2012 in News By Bruce Thain

The building of quality new housing, creation of jobs and increasing economic growth are just some of the key points of the council’s Plan for Tottenham.

In the master plan for the regeneration of the area, Haringey Council says up to 10,000 new homes will be built and up to 5,000 new jobs will be created during the next 13 years.

The plans were launched by the council this morning, almost a year after the riots, at the site of the former Carpet Right Building, in High road, which was destroyed.

The Plan for Tottenham highlights details of work across the area, from the Northumberland Park Project, for the new Spurs stadium, to developments in Tottenham Hale and Seven Sisters.

Leader of Haringey council Clair Kober said: “This plan represents a year’s worth of work from conversations and consultation with local residents, traders and business about what they would like to see.

“I think this plan gives a message to the people that the council is committed to the area and it represents the regeneration of Tottenham in every sense."

Councillor Alan Strickland member for regeneration said: “This is a really ambitious plan for Tottenham and we hope by 2025 to see Tottenham as one of the most important regeneration projects in London.”

However the plan has been met with caution from businesses on Tottenham High Road, worried regeneration is not happening fast enough.

Derek Lewis runs the H. GLickman hardware store, which has been in the High Road for 80 years, and has worked at the shop for more than 50 years.

He said: “It is good to hear there has been a plan is in place. The council has talked to business about it, but now we actually need to see things move forward.

“To me these things take such a long time before you see work start to happen.

“We do need big brands to come back to the High Road which will bring people back to the shops.

“But there needs to be a balance with the local independent shops to make sure they don’t go under.”

Councillor Kober said: “Local business and traders are the bedrock of the High Road and they are vital to the local community. But I think it’s important to get brand retailers to the area to attract more people to the High Road.”

More than £1billion has been secured for Tottenham though the major developments in Northumberland Park and Tottenham Hale, with a further £40million to be invested by Haringey council and the Mayor of London.