Plans to knock down and rebuild the whole of Walworth's Aylesbury Estate may be reconsidered for the first time in ten years, according to Southwark News. Two meetings are being held this month to discuss what should happen next.

Key points

  • Two summits — a public meeting on 24 October and a council-run renewal summit on 29 October will both look at the estate's future.
  • Retrofit idea — campaigners want three blocks in Phase 2C refurbished rather than demolished.
  • Delays — demolition of Phase 2B has not started, and no developer has been found for later phases.

The Our Aylesbury campaign group has organised a public meeting from 4pm to 6pm on Saturday 24 October. Peckham MP Miatta Fahnbulleh has confirmed she will attend, the paper reports. Five days later, on Thursday 29 October, Southwark Council will hold its Aylesbury Estate Renewal Summit, bringing residents, campaigners and experts together to share ideas.

Both the council and Fahnbulleh have suggested the original 2015 plan for full demolition may no longer be fixed. Fahnbulleh said some blocks are in too poor a condition and need to be redone, but added that where buildings can be retrofitted, that option should be taken. She also said empty blocks should not be left standing.

"We want to hear from everyone and all views - from retrofitting buildings to rebuilding and renewal - as well as listening to critics of regeneration and past approaches."

That was the message from Green councillor Alexandra Austin, the executive member for new homes and public works. She said the council would work closely with residents to tackle the housing crisis and end the disruption and delay that have dogged the project. The council said it would consider all available options, and Cllr Austin accepted the estate is at a crossroads.

Since winning control of several London councils this year, the Greens have promised to retrofit up to 2,000 homes in Tower Hamlets and to pause estate demolitions in Lambeth. A move to refurbish the Aylesbury would mark a big change from the previous Labour administration's approach.

The estate has been in limbo since the council said it would end its partnership with developer Notting Hill Genesis after Phase 2B. The council said residents had raised concerns about slow progress, and that delays had contributed to antisocial behaviour around empty blocks. Demolition of Phase 2B has still not begun, and the council said last week it was still awaiting confirmation from NHG about when work would start. No developer has been found for phases 2C, 3, 4A, 4B and 4C, so those stages are also on hold.

Eleven years into the project and ten years behind the original 2036 completion date, it looks increasingly unlikely the renewal will be delivered on time.

Our Aylesbury has welcomed the news that retrofit could be considered for later phases. The group wants the approach used for Wolverton, Brockley and 1-240 Wendover House, known as Little Wendover, which are earmarked for Phase 2C. Retrofit would mean extensive refurbishment to fix damp, mould and water supply problems and make the blocks more efficient. Campaigners argue it would be better and quicker than full demolition, and would let residents stay in their homes while structural issues are sorted out.

Southwark News reported in May that remaining residents in Little Wendover had been left without water for weeks. A spokesperson for Our Aylesbury said the issue was more nuanced, claiming that imminent demolition had been used as an excuse for not doing repairs properly or at all in the past.

Editor's comment

What it means in practice

If Southwark does switch from demolition to retrofit, the change would affect residents' daily lives in concrete ways. People living in blocks earmarked for Phase 2C could stay put instead of being moved out. But the decision is not final, and the two meetings this month are the places where the arguments will be heard.

  • Stay informed — if you live on the estate, the public meeting on 24 October and the council summit on 29 October are your chance to hear the options and put questions to decision-makers.
  • Check your rights — if you are a council or housing association tenant in a block under review, ask your landlord what retrofit would mean for your tenancy, your rent and any planned moves.
  • Watch the budget — retrofit is expensive, and any change of plan could affect council spending on housing across the borough, not just the Aylesbury.