Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), visited the Ocean Estate in London's East End to see the regeneration scheme's progress.

The HCA allocated more than £41 million to support the provision of new affordable homes on the estate after Tower Hamlets Council granted planning approval in March this year.

To date, the pilot Decent Homes programme has been completed, providing new kitchens, bathrooms and other repairs to 170 homes. The main refurbishment programme is expected to start later this month.

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Two of the blocks have been demolished, another five have been decanted in preparation for their upcoming demolition and the final stage of decants and acquisitions are underway in other blocks.

The regeneration scheme will see more than 800 new homes built on the estate, almost half of which will be affordable, and nearly 800 council homes refurbished up to Decent Homes standards. The estate's landscape will also be improved and new community facilities developed. East Thames Consortium has been appointed to carry out the refurbishment and new build programme.

Sir Bob Kerslake commented: "Providing affordable, high quality homes and creating communities where people want to live is a key priority for us and it is good to see the progress of the work done at the Ocean Estate. I really enjoyed having the chance to chat to residents who will benefit from this development thanks to the hard work of our partners."

(CD/GK)