Anxious residents are on tenterhooks as consultations start on plans to demolish and re-build homes on three estates.

A landlord who has been unable to sell her one bedroom flat and young couples are among those to express concerns after residents’ offers were sent out and the first round of meetings take place this week.

Circle Housing Merton Priory (CHMP) is proposing to regenerate three estates in Merton - High Path in south Wimbledon, Ravensbury on the border of Morden and Mitcham and Eastfields in Mitcham - which would involve demolishing and rebuilding about 900 homes, while adding about an extra 1,200 properties.

From Friday: Circle Housing Merton Priory reveals financial offers to nearly 1,000 people affected by regeneration bid

The company has pledged to keep the existing communities together in new high-quality homes earmarked for Eastfields, High Path and Ravensbury.

The Residents’ Offer, alongside the housing options and latest designs to transform the estates are being laid out at a series of consultation events that started on Saturday, May 30 and run throughout this month.

Three resident's associations from each estate met up on Monday night to discuss the plans.

Ann Baldwin, secretary of Eastfields Residents' Association said people were worried and there was mistrust of CHMP.

Ms Baldwin said: "Some people don't want them.

"No-one trusts CHMP in the slightest - repairs don't get done, you have to kick up a fuss.

"This is social cleansing - we can't afford to stay in the area otherwise."

She said residents felt ignored and lied to over the consultation process and it had been a box-ticking exercise.

"We don't have a choice.

"They have ignored everything we have asked for," she added.

Michelle Gopsill was forced to become a landlord when she couldn’t sell her property in High Path.

She had to move to Manchester for work and is renting a property there until the situation is resolved. She said her property was valued at £300,000 by an independent estate agent, but she has been offered £255,000 by CHMP.

Ms Gopsill said she had four offers fall through "because of the threat of regeneration" and it had been a very stressful time. She said: "I have got to the stage where I can’t move forward with my life at all.

"It has cost me about £1,000 in legal fees and up to £5,000 in mortgage costs.

"I don’t know if they will pay exit fees, what the time scale is - there’s no information about this."

Paul Quinn, director of regeneration at Circle Housing Merton Priory, said: “All residents currently living in the three neighbourhoods have a guaranteed right to stay through the Residents Offer if we go ahead with regeneration.

"To encourage everyone to remain in their neighbourhood, we’re committed to providing residents with a choice of new homes to meet their needs while covering their moving costs and fees and compensating them.

"If a resident decides to sell their home we will buy it from them at market value which is independently assessed. We have carefully listened to residents’ comments and the Residents Offer has been shaped to incorporate and address their feedback.”

Christopher Holt of the Ravensbury Residents’ Association said: "Circle Housing don’t give a hoot what residents think.

"They are not interested in consulting, it’s a done deal."

He said people were fearful about the future, not knowing what size or type of property they would end up living in, what maintenance costs they would be liable for or when it would all happen.

He said: "They asked us do we think the residents’ offer is fair - it’s a controversial question.

"It is under the duress of demolition."

A copy of the offer has been hand-delivered to tenants and resident homeowners and sent to absentee landlords. Although the master plans are different for each neighbourhood, the offer includes the same guarantees:

• A right to stay for all resident homeowners and Circle Housing Merton Priory tenants living on the neighbourhoods

• Each resident homeowner and Circle Housing Merton Priory tenant will be offered a new, high quality home that meets their individual circumstances and needs with private outdoor space for each home

• All Circle Housing Merton Priory tenants will keep the same tenancy rights as they have now, as well as receiving financial support and practical support to cover costs and compensate for disturbance

• A replacement home for resident homeowners at no additional cost to them if they choose to stay

• Resident homeowners will also get market value for their home plus ten percent together with payments to cover costs and compensate for disturbance

• Non-resident homeowners will be offered the market value for their property and additional payments

• Help for tenants of private landlords including free advice and support CHMP said it is committed to working in partnership with residents throughout the regeneration process to make sure they are at the heart of improvements to their neighbourhoods.

The latest consultation will be followed by an independent survey of every household on all three neighbourhoods.

This survey will be carried out by independent consultants and will help CHMP decide whether to submit planning applications to Merton Council.

The remaining consultation dates are as follows:

High Path

Thursday 4 June, Elim Pentecostal Church, 59 High Path, 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Wednesday 10 June, Elim Pentecostal Church, 59 High Path, 3.30pm – 7.30pm

Eastfields

Tuesday 2 June, St Mark’s Academy, 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Saturday 6 June, St Mark’s Academy, 11am – 3pm
Tuesday 9 June, St Mark’s Academy, 6pm – 8pm

Ravensbury

Wednesday 3 June, Ravensbury residents room, 5pm – 8pm
Thursday 11 June, Ravensbury residents room, 5pm – 8pm
Saturday 13 June, the corner of Hengelo Gardens and Ravensbury Grove, 11am – 3pm