Southwark Council's Cabinet has accepted all recommendations from the Housing Scrutiny Commission regarding the Chilton Grove Estate project, signalling a commitment to learning from past major works and improving resident communication.

The decision, made at a Cabinet meeting on Monday, March 16, 2026, follows a review of the management of the first phase of the Chilton Grove project. The Housing Scrutiny Commission's review was prompted by issues related to how the first phase of the project was managed by the Council. On 8 October 2025, the Strategic Director of Housing, Director of Repairs and Maintenance, Head of Investment, and the Task and Finishing Team lead attended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to respond to queries raised by residents and members about the management of the first phase of the Chilton Grove project.

A young woman speaks passionately at a council meeting, gesturing with her hands, while another woman listens intently.
A young woman speaks passionately at a council meeting, gesturing with her hands, while another woman listens intently.

Key among the accepted recommendations is the commitment to ensure resident communications cover all age groups and utilize a variety of media, including text messaging, emails, postal mail, and online platforms. The council also pledged to engage more actively with tenants and leaseholders through estate walks, repair action days, and in-person or hybrid meetings. To improve communication, the council plans to send regular newsletters and emails, and hold quarterly open sessions for residents to drop in and talk to the team. These sessions will be promoted through newsletters, email, and posters on the estate, with newsletters printed and posted through resident front doors. The council also aims to increase participation by sending regular newsletters and emails to residents where they have email addresses. For the Chilton Grove estate phase 2 project, the council is encouraging more collaborations with residents, including having a resident on the procurement panel and exploring the possibility of setting up a Tenant and Resident Association (TRA).

Furthermore, the Cabinet agreed to establish processes for maintaining full transparency when issuing bills for leaseholder charges, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and explanations for how charges are calculated. This aims to build trust and accountability with leaseholders.

A comprehensive lessons learned register has been produced, which will be made accessible to staff and residents involved in managing and delivering planned major works projects. The register will be maintained and updated regularly to incorporate ongoing feedback and improvements. This register will be available to all staff involved in managing and delivering planned major works projects.

The council also committed to gathering lessons learned from other major works projects across estates including Canada Estate, Kirby Estate, Devon Mansions, Arica Estate, and Consort Estate to inform best practices for future projects.

These decisions underscore the council's dedication to improving communication, transparency, and resident involvement in major works projects, aiming to enhance service delivery and resident satisfaction. The council plans to hold quarterly open sessions for residents to drop in and talk to the team, with the first of these open sessions held in November 2025. The council is also encouraging more collaborations with residents, including having a resident on the procurement panel for the upcoming project.

A construction worker in high-visibility clothing and a hard hat is planting greenery in a garden area, with a building under construction in the background.
A construction worker in high-visibility clothing and a hard hat is planting greenery in a garden area, with a building under construction in the background.