Blenheim Court Estate Improvements
About the project
We are working to make your estate's shared spaces safer and to discourage anti-social behaviour. We have been working in partnership with the local police to tackle ongoing issues. We have also liaised with multiple teams across the Council to ensure that much needed recycling, lumber store and landscaping improvements are delivered. Our original plan was to install secure door entry systems on eight stairwells. Unfortunately, this improvement wasn't feasible to deliver as the cost estimates were much higher than expected and exceed our allocated budget.
Security improvements
Over the past few months, our officers have been working hard behind the scenes to explore additional alternative security and environmental measures and improvements.
The Community Safety Team have been working with Parkguard and Safer Neighbourhood Team officers to increase high‑visibility patrols in the most affected locations. Please see an update from the team in the important documents section on this page.
Below are the remaining proposed measures and solutions we are currently engaging on, based on the key recommendations from the recent Environmental Visual Audit.
Controlled Access – Proposed Measures
We are proposing 4 new pin code gates at the street facing entrances that are most at risk of unauthorised access. Residents will receive further communication about the next phase shortly. Additional lighting is proposed to ensure there is visibility to the keypad. Please see proposed lock illustration can be found in the important documents section.
We propose to monitor how effective the gates are in reducing antisocial behaviour and unauthorised entry, and will review their placement, usage and overall impact using resident feedback and security data. Visitors and deliveries will be able to access the estate upper floors via the open internal stairwells.
Estate Environment/Play – Proposed Improvements
We are planning improvements to the communal play area to create a safer and more welcoming space for children and families. We held a pop up on the estate on 7 July and are now developing Initial ideas and we will continue to engage with all residents in September. We are very keen to include accessible equipment and sensory play so any ideas you have would be most welcome.
Tenants and Residents Association (TRA)
We are also exploring the opportunity to establish a Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) for the Blenheim Estate. A TRA can play a vital role in shaping local priorities, strengthening community voice, and working collaboratively with the Council on estate improvements.
If you are interested in getting involved or would like more information, please contact the Resident Empowerment Team at: residentempowermentteam@islington.gov.uk
COMPLETED IMPROVEMENTS
Recycling area improvements - Completed.
Key improvements include:
- More recycling and refuse bins in new fire-proof enclosures with clearer signage
- Additional bin locations across the estate for easier access
- Accessible bin designs to support residents with disabilities
- Food waste recycling bins in most areas, with new enclosures to reduce odours and improve appearance
You can view the case study by visiting the 'Important Documents' section located at the bottom of this page.
Lumber store improvements - Complete
Lumber screens have been installed and we are monitoring and reviewing the current lumber capacity and exploring different design options for potential additional storage.
Temporary CCTV – Complete
5 Temporary cameras have now been installed in the most vulnerable areas of the estate. These cameras will remain in place for 12–18 months to act both as a deterrent and to support evidence gathering for the Police and Community Safety Team. As these are temporary cameras there are no associated charges to residents.
Lighting and Visibility – Complete
We have repaired some lighting across the estate to improve visibility and reduce potential hiding spots. Mirrors have been installed in stairwells to help residents see who is approaching and this will continue to be reviewed in terms of its effectiveness.
We have also installed blue lighting across all eight stairwells. While we recognise that this may feel less effective than warm lighting, the purpose is to create an environment that discourages drug use and reduces loitering. These measures will continue to be monitored to assess their effectiveness.
Funding
All the above improvements will be fully funded by Islington Council, and therefore will not be recharged to residents. The maintenance and servicing of these new facilities will be charged through rent and service charge.
