‘We’re fighting for our homes’: Ayslesbury estate exhibition to open in tenant’s flat

Residents living on the controversial Aylesbury estate will showcase an exhibition in one of the flats to highlight the tenant’s struggle to prevent regeneration.

The development of the Aylesbury estate has come under fierce criticism as social homes have been demolished, to be replaced with private or affordable rent units, and hundreds of tenants displaced to other parts of the country.

It has been dubbed “social cleansing” by housing activists, and now an exhibition will show the history of the estate’s redevelopment, and a “celebration” of the resistance to Southwark council and the property developers’ plans.

Aysen Dennis, 64, has lived on the Aylesbury estate for 30 years, and has decided host the exhibition.

“I love my flat and I don’t want to move out,” she said. “I started this campaign and the exhibition will look at two things – what we have gone through, and to celebrate our struggle and fight.

“Now is the time to start talking about housing again. Homelessness and people in temporary accommodation is very high, while there are lovely flats being built everywhere that are empty.”

Aysen is retired, having spent her career working at Women’s Refuge. She has since dedicated her life to campaigning against the demolition of her home.

“My block is almost empty,” she said. “We’re in the second phase of redevelopment but we are still here. As long as we’re still here there is a chance.”

The exhibition will be split into the separate rooms of Aysen’s home which will represent the different issues faced by the campaigners.

One room will look at the tenants’ battle with Southwark council, another will look at how the estate regeneration has affected the mental health of those living there.

Aysen said one room will be dedicated to her sister, who died in her flat.

“We know there is nothing with our buildings,” said Aysen. “But the council tells us there is. The councillors are working as agents for the property developers. they are not working for the community, they are destroying the community.

“They can’t push us around because we are working class or ethnic minorities.”

The exhibition is expected to be ready in April this year. Campaign group Fight4Aylesbury is currently fundraising for the exhibition.

The group said: “The exhibition will be open to the public. The whole flat, located on a high floor of one of the Aylesbury big blocks that are still standing, will be covered with images, cuttings, collages, posters, sound and video recordings, and objects relating to the history of organising on the estate.

“Every room will be themed: the themes include organising, mental health, relationship with the council, history, and squatting.”

Southwark councillor Darren Merrill said: “Recently Notting Hill Genesis got the go ahead for the next phase of building with 50 per cent affordable housing, following around 560 new council homes being built on the First Development Sites A and B.

“Profit is not the name of the game here. Our attempts to maintain our existing stock of 55,000 homes and build more high quality housing for residents face some serious challenges.

“Council budgets have been slashed year on year for more than a decade, further stretched by rent caps and other pressures like investment in building safety and now over 10 per cent inflation. Private sales help to fund the building of truly affordable homes for local people.”

You can donate to the fundraiser here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fight4aylesbury?utm_term=gKQQQzp8q

Pictured top: Aysen Dennis, 64, has lived on the Aylesbury estate for 30 years (Picture: Alessia Gammarota)