Newlon Housing group is seeking an urgent meeting with Barnet council amid fears that it will lose out on a contract to regenerate a north London estate.
Council officers have recommended that the Dollis Valley contract go to Warden Housing Association, although the majority of tenants back Newlon.

Newlon chief executive Mike Hinch said: "It's just not clear why we've been rejected. We're surprised and confused. If there was a problem with our scheme, we thought it would have been pointed out at an earlier stage."

Jon Lloyd-Owen, regeneration manager for the housing service at Barnet council, said: "The decision to recommend Warden came after a three-stage process in which, overall, it was significantly the stronger candidate."

He said the council had a duty to ensure the scheme was as financially strong as possible, and Warden "offered the greatest assurance".

The 600-home estate is being redeveloped to provide more than 1200 houses.

In a ballot that ended on 6 October, tenants voted 44% in favour of Newlon's scheme, 34% for Warden's plan and 20% in favour of an option from the Choices consortium of Notting Hill and Genesis housing associations.

Source

Housing Today