More than 4,000 social homes demolished in Southwark in a decade

New research has found that more than 4,000 social rent homes in Southwark have been demolished in the past 10 years, the second highest of any borough in London.

The research, carried out by the London Tenants Federation (LTF), found that 4,382 social rent homes had been demolished in the borough since 2012.

The research also found that the rate of building new social rented homes in the borough had left it with a net loss of 1,946 homes to replace the ones that had been demolished.

Lambeth was the next highest South London borough, with 1,151 demolitions in the same period, with only 476 new social homes delivered in the same period.

A total of 23,000 social rent homes have been demolished in the capital in the past decade, while 12,050 additional social-rented homes were built – LTF found that had none been demolished this would have risen to 34,942.

Southwark councillor Darren Merrill, Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Homelessness, said: “Avoiding demolition is not always possible, particularly when it comes to acting in the best interests of our residents and the public purse.

“Many ageing buildings from the 1960s and 1970s are not fit for purpose, with ancient, integral and often underground heating systems which constantly leak and break leaving tenants with no proper heating or water while they are fixed.

“Demolition to make way for new build can, in specific circumstances, mean progress towards more modern, suitable housing. 

“At Elephant and Castle, we have built more social housing than the original footprints of the demolished 1960s estates that make up a big chunk of the demolition number here.

“Our stock of social housing is huge – at 55,000 properties, it dwarfs the number most other authorities manage, and the numbers here have to be seen in context, as a percentage.”

A spokesman for Lambeth council said: “Since 2017 Lambeth has achieved consistently ahead of its London Plan targets and brought forward over 2,400 affordable homes through the planning system. 

“In that period the council has also built 234 new homes at council rent, with a further 55 currently under construction. This is adds to the more than 33,000 council homes we have in our borough, making Lambeth one of the largest social housing providers in the country.”

“A further 233 council rent homes are also planned and new council schemes for Brixton Station Road and Somerleyton Road in Brixton will create even more new homes at council rent.

“In order to provide the best possible homes for our residents, this h’as sometimes required the replacement of ageing properties in poor condition with new homes.

Work begins on the demolition of the Aylesbury estate in Southwark in 2010 (Picture: PA)