Brent Council insists that regeneration plans for one of the borough’s biggest estates will only go ahead with residents’ permission.

Its cabinet confirmed yesterday that the “conversation” around plans to revamp St Raphael’s Estate, in Stonebridge, can get under way.

But it assured those living there that such widescale changes will only be put through once they have been consulted – possibly through the form of a ballot.

Cllr Eleanor Southwood, responsible for housing and welfare reform at Brent Council, said: “There is no fixed plan for what this cabinet wants St Raphael’s to look like over the next three, five, 10 or 20 years.

“We want residents and tenants to shape what it will look like and nothing would go ahead without their agreement.”

A council report put forward two potential set of proposals – limited work, which would involve modification to the current buildings, or a complete redevelopment of the estate.

Cllr Southwood explained that this was just a start, and there was no suggestion that these are the only options available.

She said the key issue was to provide more, better quality housing as well as make the effort to improve issues such as crime, littering and youth activities.

“We have an enormous, chronic problem with social housing,” she said.

“This is an opportunity to provide new and modern homes for those who already live there, and for those who are in desperate need of them.

“The hope is to build a mixed and vibrant estate, as St Raph’s was intended to be. We want [residents] to guide us through this.”

The council noted that feedback provided by those living on the estate suggested there could be improvements in terms of safety, cleanliness and connectivity.

Cllr Southwood agreed that these were “completely fair” expectations and said any plans going forward would take these into account.

The cabinet agreed that there will be representatives for non-residential organisations on the estate, as well as an independent tenants’ advisor, who will be consulted throughout the process.