Council estates saved from demolition, 12 years on

A south London council has pledged to repair two housing estates rather than demolish them, ending 12 years of uncertainty for residents.

Green Party-led Lambeth Council voted to remove Central Hill in Norwood and Cressingham Gardens in Tulse Hill from its redevelopment programme, at a cabinet meeting last Wednesday.

Councillor Scott Ainslie said residents had "lived under the threat of demolition", adding: "That ends now. These homes will be kept, maintained properly, and repaired."

Residents have welcomed the move, but said they were still living with the "legacy of that disastrous decision back in 2014".

Anne Cooper, a Cressingham Gardens resident, told the meeting: "I really welcome this decision.

"I do think, however, we are living with the legacy of that disastrous decision back in 2014, and we've heard from both Cabinet members and residents about the misery that has caused."

Central Hill and Cressingham Gardens are two post-war developments that were designed by a team of Lambeth architects led by Ted Hollamby, who was renowned for creating modernist housing that aimed to improve everyday life for social housing residents.

But for more than 12 years, residents have been in limbo and have campaigned to stop the council from knocking down their estates and replacing their homes.

According to a cabinet report, council officers found comprehensive redevelopment of both Central Hill and Cressingham Gardens, which would involve demolition and rebuilding, to be financially unviable.

The council said it would focus on delivering "genuinely affordable homes" while respecting the borough's architectural heritage by avoiding demolition of the sites.

Former Central Hill resident and councillor Pete Elliot, cabinet member for housing, said: "Far too long, previous Labour administrations pursued demolition as the default answer to complex housing challenges.

"Millions of pounds were spent developing schemes that never materialised or were substandard. Residents were left living with uncertainty, anxiety and disruption and depression."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk