London council reverses plans to demolish two housing estates

Residents of Cressingham Gardens and Central Hill estate in south London successfully prevented the demolition of their homes after a ten-year campaign.

Lambeth council previously planned to demolish the 1960s estates, arguing the buildings needed repair and new homes were needed. The council pursued these plans while under Labour control, but the Green party won the majority in May elections and took over administration. The Green-led council now intends to reverse the demolition plans at an upcoming cabinet meeting.

A 2022 review of Homes Lambeth, the council’s former housing management body, already questioned the redevelopment, finding the number of additional social rent homes would be minimal. The review also revealed residents consistently reported poor communication and inconsistent policy from the council, leading to low trust. Both estates were designed by Lambeth architects, with Cressingham Gardens built to foster community with its layout of facing doors and shared green space.

Central Hill estate, near Crystal Palace, was designed by Rosemary Stjernstedt, a rare female architect in social housing at the time, to maximize natural light on a sloping site. Martin Abrams, the Green leader of Lambeth, stated the decision acknowledges the work of his colleagues in securing the future of the communities. The council will now focus on repairing existing homes and reducing the number of vacant properties.