Creating more jobs and training opportunities so that local people can benefit from Tottenham’s regeneration has always been one of my priorities.

That’s why I've been really excited to meet trainees preparing to start work in some of the 140 new jobs at the Sainsbury’s superstore in north Tottenham later this week.

I was really impressed with the commitment and enthusiasm they showed to take part in the training and support provided by the council to help them get ready for their new roles.

We’ve worked with Sainsbury’s and Jobcentre Plus to make sure local people have been first in the queue for these positions, with a jobs fair at the Love Lane Estate in the summer helping residents with application forms and preparation for interviews.

I’m delighted that the vast majority of the new staff are from Tottenham, and we’re starting to see real benefits from our efforts to bring new opportunities to our area.

The scale of our ambition for Tottenham should not be underestimated: we have a once-in-a-generation chance to bring real improvements to our community.

Some residents and traders have understandably expressed concerns about some of the plans, and we remain absolutely committed to listening to the community and shaping the proposals around their feedback.

That’s why we’re setting up community liaison groups across Tottenham that have a real say on where money is spent, and a Business Steering Group to work through issues with traders and promote local, independent shops.

Delivering the right regeneration for Tottenham is a long-term process, and we want to work with the community every step of the way. Residents have made it clear to us so far that they want to see better transport links and a wider mix of local shops, both of which will help support a flourishing High Road with more customers bringing a boost to existing businesses as well as new enterprise.

We’re already seeing progress. Construction has started at Lawrence Road, where abandoned industrial units are being transformed into 264 new homes and space for small businesses, while at the former Cannon Rubber Factory on the High Road, work started in August on a new primary school and 220 affordable family homes and apartments.

We want Tottenham to be a place where more families choose to make a home, can afford to get on the housing ladder and can find work locally. That’s why we’re also improving our schools and further education opportunities, and doing more to support entrepreneurs at the thriving 639 Enterprise Centre.

This winter, a number of important improvements will be happening in Tottenham, including landscaping works starting on Tottenham Green; the undoing of the unpopular gyratory road, and the rebuilding of the Carpetright building being completed. Keep an eye out for these changes and more as they happen over the next couple of months. There is a lot of change and improvement happening in Tottenham that is really starting to take shape.

To find out more about the new jobs available in Tottenham, email Haringey Council’s Employment and Skills team at economic.regeneration@haringey.gov.uk