16 April 2025
Summary:
MTVH was proud to welcome Baroness Armstrong and the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods to Clapham Park, showcasing the positive impact of long-term regeneration in the community.
Launched in September 2024, the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods is reviewing the current state of neighbourhoods across England. The visit, which took place on 21st March 2025, provided an opportunity for the Commission to observe the transformative work taking place at Clapham Park, and to hear from residents and MTVH colleagues on our work at the estate, from providing new affordable homes to community-led initiatives fostering employment, education, and safety.
A Model for Neighbourhood Renewal
Clapham Park, located between Clapham, Brixton and Streatham Hill in South London, is MTVH’s flagship regeneration scheme. We have worked closely with residents, local authorities, and partners to build new homes, upgrade existing homes and to provide facilities, such as The Cube community centre, whilst improving the public realm, reduce crime, enhance personal safety, and promote access to education, skills, and employment.
During the visit, Baroness Armstrong spoke with residents and stakeholders to discuss how neighbourhoods can be strengthened to reduce disadvantage and improve life chances. The tour included stops at Keith Shaw House and Donna Mews, where 50 new homes for social rent have been delivered, and an informal evidence session where residents, representing Clapham Park’s Young Connectors, Men’s Den and Over-50s Club, shared their own experiences of regeneration.
Acting as a long-term community partner in Clapham Park, MTVH has helped to enhance neighbourhood health by providing facilities, such as The Cube community centre, an improved public realm, a focus on crime and personal safety, access to education, skills, and employment and better housing.
- According to the national census in 2011 39% of children in Clapham Park were living in poverty. In 2020 that number had dropped to 23%.
- In 2011 unemployment was 5.9%. In 2020 that dropped to 3.9%.
- Between 2010 and 2020 local pupils had on average progressed by almost two sub levels in English.
- Pupils have gone from a below-average score of 45% in maths to 62%.
Empowering Residents Through Community Initiatives
A key focus of MTVH’s regeneration work is supporting community-led initiatives that improve well-being and provide opportunities for residents. The three initiatives represented at the Independent Commission on Neighbour’s visit on 21st March were:
- Young Connectors: MTVH has recruited six young ambassadors from the Clapham Park community. These youth leaders play a key role in driving initiatives that address social issues, promote positive change, and empower young people.
- Men’s Den: A Lambeth-funded programme supporting men’s well-being, run from two hubs—The Cube and the Moorlands Community Centre. Every Thursday, the project provides a safe space for men to come together, enjoy a hot meal, participate in free boxing sessions, and engage in open conversations on topics that matter to them, facilitated by an external partner.
- Over-50s Club: A social inclusion programme managed by the Clapham Park Project, and is a dedicated initiative aimed at addressing social isolation among individuals aged 50 and over. This programme offers a diverse array of activities such as arts and crafts, sewing and music memory and actively nurtures a sense of community among its participants. The club also provides a yearly trip where the group travel to the seaside or a place the residents decide they would like to visit.
These initiatives reflect MTVH’s belief that regeneration is about strengthening communities from within whilst also providing high-quality affordable homes.
Althea Efunshile CBE, Chair of MTVH said: “We’re very grateful to Baroness Armstrong for visiting Clapham Park on 21st March. This was a positive meeting with our residents and colleagues sharing a wealth of experience and views with Baroness Armstrong and her team.
The work of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods is a crucial to informing the government’s approach to the regeneration of our communities. Clapham Park is an excellent example of a resident-led regeneration project, built on partnership working, which is delivering improved outcomes for residents and the wider community.
We are delighted to be helping to inform the commission’s report and will continue to work with them as this develops.”
Mel Barrett, Chief Executive of MTVH, said: “At MTVH, we believe regeneration should be about more than just buildings—it’s about people and communities. We are proud to have welcomed Baroness Armstrong and Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods to Clapham Park to showcase the positive impact of long-term investment in our neighbourhoods.
Clapham Park is one of MTVH’s flagship regeneration schemes. For over 20 years, we and our partners have been committed to providing new and upgrading existing homes whilst boosting the social capital required to ensure residents have the opportunities to help them live well.
The masterplan for Clapham Park provides a model to create a successful community while helping to meet the government’s ambitious housing targets. By providing a range of housing types from social rent to shared ownership will have doubled the number of homes at Clapham Park by 2035 and every existing social tenant will have a newly built or refurbished property.”
Baroness Hilary Armstrong, Chair of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods said: “I was pleased to visit MTVH’s regeneration project at Clapham Park. It was great to hear from residents and staff about the ongoing regeneration work and the opportunities that this is providing across the neighbourhood.
The regeneration of Clapham Park is a testament to the power of neighbourhood-focused investment. Itis vital that we continue to support initiatives like this, which put local communities at the heart of regeneration.
It’s inspiring to see the long-term commitment to regeneration here at Clapham Park. The work of MTVH and its partners demonstrates how social housing providers can play a leading role in strengthening neighbourhoods and improving opportunities for residents.”
Delivering for the Future
By 2035, over 2,500 new homes will be built at Clapham Park, doubling the number of homes on the estate, with more than 50% being affordable housing. All existing social tenants at Clapham Park have now been provided with either a new or upgraded social home.
The estate will also feature the country’s largest decarbonised district heat network, helping to provide sustainable energy at a 10% discount to the price cap in perpetuity.
MTVH is proud to have hosted the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods at Clapham Park and looks forward to continuing to lead discussions on how social housing providers can shape future regeneration policy.
The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods interim report can be found here: Interim Report – Think Neighbourhoods – ICON
For more information on our work at Clapham Park, visit: Clapham Park London – Your place to be | Metropolitan Housing
