Aylesbury Estate works delayed after battle in High Court
By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter
The next stage of a major estate rebuilding project has been delayed after a resident won a High Court battle against the local authority.
Aysen Dennis’s victory over Southwark council and housing association Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) could stop a 26-floor tower being built on the site of her former home on the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth.
Ms Dennis’s lawyers, from the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC), argued that adding the word ‘severable’ to planning permission documents made it easier for NHG, which is bringing forward the proposals, to deviate from the original plans that were formed through discussions with residents.
Her victory on Wednesday means that the next stage of the estate’s redevelopment, which was approved by Southwark council in January 2023, has now stalled.
Under the proposals, four blocks on the southern section of the estate would be flattened and replaced with 614 new homes. There would be fewer social rent homes after the rebuild under the 2023 plans.
Following the victory, Ms Dennis said: “We demand social housing, not social cleansing.”
Speaking previously, she said: “The Aylesbury estate was built for working class communities to live safely and securely. Now it is the site of a battle between our communities, and the councils and private developers who seek to demolish and privatise our homes.
“We cannot allow them to spread insecurity and socially cleanse us. We demand no demolition, no privatisation – refurbishment, security and justice.”
NHG said it was ‘disappointed’ at the court’s decision but added that it was committed to the estate’s regeneration.
A spokesman said: “This is bad news for residents as it delays the desperately needed construction of brand new, high-quality homes.
“We are very pleased that some tenants, including the complainant in this case, have already been able to move into the quality, safe, energy-efficient homes being built here, but it is disappointing that others will now be deprived of that same opportunity for the foreseeable future.”
Pictured top: The Aylesbury estate in Southwark is due to be demolished and rebuilt (Picture: Robert Firth)
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
