Plans to “improve” an estate in Walthamstow are underway but some people could end up having to leave their homes.

The council’s cabinet voted to appoint a team to look at options for the Avenue Road estate last month and says it wants to include residents in the process.

The team put together by the authority will come up with ideas to develop the area and a structural survey will be carried out on the buildings in the estate.

But, if structural issues are discovered in that survey, some people could end up having to leave their homes, as a recent newsletter from the council to Avenue Road residents makes clear.

The newsletter read: “Residents decanted will be entitled to Statutory Home Loss and Disturbance payments.”

It suggests those who are asked to leave their homes to allow structural surveys and those who may not be able to return if issues are discovered in the buildings they live in will be given cash from the authority as compensation.

As part of the plans, the council wants to appoint a dedicated Independent Tenants and Leaseholder Advisor to “support residents so they can contribute more effectively to the future plans for the estate.”

Currently, the authority is undertaking a housing needs survey, which will give the council up to date information on what residents of the estate want and need.

The council also held a residents' estate day in which questions were asked about what residents would want from any development on Wednesday August 21, a summary of the results of which will be published in autumn.

After that, the authority plans to bring together a group of residents to discuss the preferred options for the estate and if redevelopment is wanted, plans will then be submitted to a residents’ vote by ballot.

Residents are being encouraged to attend residents’ action group meetings with council representatives every month which will involve discussions of future plans for the estate.