First homes completed in £100m estate refurbishment scheme

The last brick has been placed completing the first phase of a £100 million regeneration programme on the Stockwell Park and Robsart Village estates, and the first tenant has been given the keys to her new home.

Sheila Coombs who has lived on the Stockwell Park estate for the past 30 years, moved into her new home last week. She says: “You know those programmes on the TV that talk about the wow factor, well this has got the wow factor. It’s everything I could possibly have wanted.

“The kitchen has room for everything with stacks of room left over. I adore the shower room and there’s a balcony with room for tables and chairs as well. I’ve lived at Stockwell Park for 30 years and there’s no comparison. It exceeds my expectations. Everything about it is lovely.”

The nineteen apartments were made available at an affordable rent to residents who already live on one of the two estates. Tenants played a very active role in the rebuilding process having a say in which architects would design their new homes, and being consulted on the specifications and colour schemes of the new properties.

This six year long refurbishment and rebuild programme will bring enormous benefits to the local community – tenants currently living in run down properties will benefit from improved or new housing. This scheme will see 488 flats refurbished and 542 new homes built, of which 321 will be for outright sale, 36 for shared ownership and the remaining 162 earmarked for affordable renting - including a new extra care sheltered scheme.

The new homes have been designed to a high specification with generous space standards and quality fittings, and they meet or exceed all the modern requirements for energy efficiency, water conservation, thermal and sound insulation and security.

This regeneration project will also bring improvements to the landscaping and public areas, as well as providing an on site energy centre providing renewable energy through biomass boilers. It has been delivered by Community Trust Housing (estate managers) in partnership with Lambeth Council.

Councillor Lib Peck, Lambeth Council cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said: “This project clearly shows what can be achieved when we work closely in partnership with residents to deliver good quality affordable and sustainable housing. Our collaboration has produced results which are good for the families needing homes, good for the estates which will be much improved and good for the planet because of the care taken on saving resources."