RESIDENTS living on the UK’s ugliest estate have slammed the council’s plans to flatten their homes – saying they love it.
Nearly 2,000 houses are set to be built on the Lesnes Estate in south London – with existing homes facing demolition.
Residents are battling to save the Lesnes EstateCredit: Google
But lifelong locals fear they could be forced to move if the “reckless” plans go ahead.
Adam Turk, 50, told MyLondon: “If they do succeed in knocking this place down, they only want to put a quarter of us back here.
“I don’t earn a lot of money, so I’m going to be financially displaced.”
Johnnel Olabie, 56, said: “It is just reckless for you to put additional pressure on people’s wallets.
“The estate has people above 60, 70 and 80, they are old. They don’t know where to go and they are really in a frustrated state.
“That is how we quickly got ourselves together to say, ‘You know what? We want to fight back’.”
Tenants on the estate staged a protest against the planned demolition – by staying in an empty home for three nights last month.
They said the protest was intended to point out that there are many vacant properties on the estate which could house new tenants.
Johnnel said that developer Peabody had offered to buy his house for much less than he wanted – and that it was “kind of bullying”.
He also claimed that the housing association had let the estate become an eyesore to put off residents.
Peabody said: “We want to ensure the community can stay together and have offered all Peabody tenants and resident homeowners on the estate a new home in the neighbouring new development.
“Homeowners will be able to move at no additional cost, as part of our shared equity offer.
“By living in new, more energy efficient homes, residents should also benefit from reduced energy bills.
“As a not-for-profit housing association, our priority is to provide affordable housing and support local communities.
“We reinvest all income into providing homes and services and last year spent £113m on existing homes as well as building new ones.
A spokesperson added: “Our rents were £679m lower than the market in 2021/22 and last year we built more than 1,000 affordable homes, the majority for social rent.
“The regeneration of South Thamesmead is already seeing us deliver brand new social homes for hundreds of local people, with the average rent for a 2-bed home being £101 a week.
“The redevelopment of the Lesnes Estate (phases 3 to 7 of our masterplan) has received widespread support from the local community, with more than 70 per cent of residents voting in favour of it.
“As with previous phases, we will be building high quality, energy-efficient, affordable homes for local people, alongside much-needed additional homes to help address the housing shortage in the borough.”
