CONTENTS – 1 Key Docs Review Going Ahead – 2 Lease Types – 3 Ballot Turnout Letter – 4 Changes to Phasing? – 5 Many Qs about Newlon’s new Residents’ Group – 6 New NB Rep – 7 How to catch up on past NB updates
Hello and apologies for the silence from us over the past couple of months. With lockdown easing it’s been a busy time for everyone. And to be honest there hasn’t been much to report back to you since our last update in April. No news about Newlon’s search for an investment partner, and we haven’t had any recent meetings with Source. As ever, if you find out any information that could be useful to the group, please email us: barnsburyleaseholders@gmail.com
- Key Documents Review Going Ahead
Key Documents Review – Thank you for your donations to our legal fundraiser. We raised enough to go ahead with the document review, and the documents have been sent to Compulsory Purchase Valuer Keith Murray to look at. We will be in touch with you when we receive his report.
Keith is one of the most experienced and respected CPVs in the country, and working with him so far has been straightforward and informative. Please see his website for more info – HERE
- Lease types on New Barnsbury
Fewer than one in four of you fed back to us about the type of lease they had. Based on the small number of people we heard from, we were able to select 3 representative leases that have been submitted to Keith Murray along with the Offer Document and Draft Residents Charter.
3. Ballot Turnout Letter
Ballot turnout letter – all leaseholders (res AND non-res) should have received a letter to their home address (the address held by Newlon on their database) with information about the turnout and majority of the ballot. If you did not receive this letter, please contact Newlon to make sure they have the right address for you.
- Potential changes to Phasing (aka when your block will be knocked down and when your flat will be bought back by Newlon)
Source has reminded us that the Phasing outlined in the Offer Document may well be subject to change between now and planning permission being granted/construction beginning (approx. spring 2022). This makes it very difficult for any of us to plan the next few years. All we can do is wait and see, and ensure we share information as it emerges.
- Lots of questions about Newlon’s new “Residents Group”
A small number of leaseholders were approached personally by Newlon recently to join a (new?) Residents’ Group set up by Newlon. A couple of the Reps (one New Barns, the other Old) will go along to the first meeting to find out what it’s all about.
We have many questions: What is the function of the group? Is it to shape the Residents Charter? Where is the formal TRA (tenants and residents association) that Source said they’d help us set up? Will this new “Residents Group” be representative – i.e. will it have 20% leaseholders like the estate does? Is the system for choosing members fair? Will both Old and New Barns be represented equally? Will non-resident leaseholders be represented? Will this new Group actually have any power or influence?
So far we haven’t been able to get any of these questions answered. We will get back in touch when things become clearer.
- Additional New Barnsbury Rep
I’m delighted to say that another New Barnsbury Leaseholder (resident on the estate) has volunteered to help to run the leaseholders group. We’re very grateful to her, and we’ll introduce her once she’s had a chance to find her feet.
- Catch up on past updates
All the New Barnsbury and whole-group updates since before the ballot have been copied onto this blog – so if you think you have missed something, scroll down and have a look.
Many thanks from your New Barnsbury Leaseholder Reps
barnsburyleaseholders@gmail.com
Barnsbury Estate Leaseholders Group 