Two London Housing Estates from the 1960s Saved from Demolition After Decade-Long Fight

A change in council leadership has given residents of notable architectural developments in Lambeth a reprieve: two council housing estates in south London that had faced demolition for over a decade have been saved. Residents of Kersingham Gardens and Central Hill Estate tirelessly campaigned to save their homes, saying the low-density 1960s developments are architecturally significant and popular among residents. Read more...

Two council buildings in south London that had been on the verge of demolition for more than a decade have been saved.

Residents of the Cressingham Gardens and Central Hill estates have fought tirelessly to save their homes, saying the low-density developments of the 1960s were striking in design and popular with residents.

Lambeth Council argued that the properties were in poor repair and their demolition would create more affordable social housing.

The plans followed when Lambeth was controlled by Labour, but the Greens won the most seats in May's election and now run the council as a minority.

They oppose the demolition plans, which are expected to be scrapped at a cabinet meeting next week.

The fate of the properties attracted more attention, partly because of their design, but also because of the years of uncertainty faced by tenants and leaseholders as the council sought demolition.

A 2022 review by Lambeth Homes, the now-defunct body that manages housing for the council, questioned the redevelopment plans and said the net number of social rented homes to be created was too few.

Sir Bob Kerslick, the former head of the civil service who led the review, said "the feedback was uniformly negative" and residents of estates earmarked for development cited conflicting policy, delays and poor communication. He added: As a result, the level of trust in the council is exceptionally low.

Both threatened estates were designed by a team of Lambeth architects led by Ted Hallamby, who advocated a move away from tower blocks to lower-rise housing.

Cressingham Gardens, which adjoins Brockwell Park, is designed to encourage neighborliness, facing front doors and green spaces for play.

At a time when women were rare in social housing design, the Central Hill project was led by Rosemary Stjernstedt. Built on a sloping site near Crystal Palace, the houses maximize natural light.

Martin Abrams, Lambeth Green leader, said: "This is a defining moment for Central Hill and Cressingham Gardens. It recognizes the tireless work of my colleagues in securing the future of these communities without destruction. We can now focus on investing in residents' homes and reusing empty properties."

Cabinet member for housing Pete Elliott said: "For more than 12 years we have been fighting for a better future for Central Hill and Cressingham Gardens. These proposals end years of uncertainty and put the focus where it belongs: fixing homes, supporting communities and filling empty estates."