George Downing Estate. An urban community site.

This website has been created by estate residents as a result of residents meetings and engagement with the wider community, to share information, local knowledge and resources. Helping us care for our estate and connecting and empowering our community. Get in touch if you’d like to share any thoughts or feedback.

Resident meetings

Residents gather roughly once a season in the Boiler House to discuss issues and share thoughts and ideas.

The next meeting will be Winter 2025/6. More details on the meetings page.

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Estate management issues The estate residents group was formed in 2021 in response to long-standing frustrations with Southern Housing’s lack of presence, poor communication and limited action on persistent issues affecting the estate.

For a number of years, residents have faced delays in repairs, inconsistent quality of works and unresolved communal problems. Common issues - such as leaks, faulty lights, lift failures and insecure doors - have often remained unresolved for months or even years, often leading to bigger problems down the line.

Without clear communication or a single point of contact, residents have frequently been forced to act as project managers, tracking progress, escalating problems and chasing contractors for basic information.

Residents now connect to share updates and strategies, working with local Councillors and the Mayor’s Office, building connections with Southern Housing at different levels and raising complaints with Southern Housing and the Housing Ombudsman when necessary.

The recent introduction of the Local Link model, an area-based team with a dedicated manager, has led to improved communication and a more consistent presence on the estate.

In November 2025, a panel of residents joined team members on a detailed walk-around, inspecting communal areas and discussing issues across the estate. Encouragingly, in the weeks following there has been a noticeable increase in longstanding issues being addressed. We hope this is a sign that more improvements are coming.

The Boiler House

COMMUNITY SPACE

The Boiler House is a well loved, multi use community space in the middle of George Downing Estate.

  • Boiler House Development

    The long term development of the community space is progressing and currently passing through required planning and ecological survey processes.

    The sports pitch is temporarily closed - we hope to have an update on this soon. A resident gardening group has also been starting plans for a community garden space. Find out more

  • Felix Fresh Events

    In November The Boiler House hosted an event run by the Felix Project, distributing free fresh fruit and veg to the community.

    The scheme, created to reduce food waste was open to all. The Boiler House hope to be hosting another event soon - watch this space.

  • SNUG Quiz Night

    Stoke Newington Common Users Group recently put on a Quiz night at the Boiler House.

    The event raised funds for our local Common, including the creation of a custom piece by the Hackney Mosaic project.

    Hailed as a successful and fun night with tickets sold out, SNUG will hopefully repeat the event sometime in the future.

Southern Housing walkabouts with residents

DECEMBER 2025

Over the past two years residents have been working with Southern Housing to arrange walkabouts of the estate, as recommended by Southern Housings Director of repairs and estate transformation.

Walkabouts enable us to speak directly with Southern Housing, giving them a clearer idea of the estates unaddressed and reoccurring problems and pointing out specific issues.

More info and summaries of the walkabouts here.

Resources for older residents

WE NOW HAVE A PAGE WITH RESOURCES FOR OLDER RESIDENTS.

Please have a look and share with anyone who may find it useful. We welcome feedback and suggestions.

VISIT

  • Our landscaping is managed by Southern Housings garden maintenance team.

    The condition of greenery on the estate is important to residents. There’s been concern about the amount of plants and shrubs that have died off over the past few years, leaving empty areas in beds across the estate.

    The residents association has begun a dialogue with the head of the gardening maintenance team and the estate home services manager. During summer 2023 we had a walkabout meeting to raise residents concerns and see where improvements might be made. Read the minutes

    In October 2024 some new planting has been added in spaces raised by residents.

  • There has bee an increase in gardening activity from residents on the estate, individually and together with others.

    A gardening group has been started for residents wishing to be involved in the Boiler House community growing and forest garden project.

    The Southern Housing gardening maintenance team are also keen to hear residents thoughts and are open to various forms of resident involvement. They would especially appreciate residents helping give extra care to the greenery during hot, dry spells.

    If you have thoughts or ideas you’d like to share, come along to a meeting or get in touch

  • The campaigns section of this website could help residents wishing to collaborate - share ideas and plans, explore funding opportunities, or promote any potential groups or projects.

  • The Boiler House charity is leading a project to create a community forest garden on the estate, as part of the Boiler House community space development. The space could create opportunities for community connection and wellbeing while improving our estate environment.

    What’s a forest garden?

    A forest garden is a sustainable and diverse agricultural system that mimics a natural woodland system. It combines trees, shrubs, and other plants to create a self-sustaining environment with the diversity, stability and resilience of natures ecosystems.

    Three garden design workshops are planned for December, open to anybody from the estate and the wider community. Details of the work shops are in the development section further up the page.

  • Recycling facilities on the estate include general recycling, food waste, garden waste and a clothing and textiles bin.

    We currently have a fortnightly visit from the Topup Truck to help reduce packaging waste.

    Does anyone have ideas or suggestions to make our estate more environmentally friendly?

  • As well as helping our greenery flourish, spaces that attract wildlife create a healthier ecosystem.

    Our estate is home to a range of animals, birds, bugs and bees - we even have a resident beekeeper working to increase our bee population.

    What else could we do to make our estate a more wildlife friendly place?

Green George Downing🌿

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