Aylesbury Estate Regeneration Phase 1A wins London Planning Award - Best Place To Live

Published by Daren Nathan for Durkan Group in Housing

The Awards recognise excellence in building and city planning. The final shortlist was judged by a panel of experts representing the Mayor, London First, the RTPI and London Councils.

The project team are delighted that the regeneration of this area of the Aylesbury Estate in Southwark has received this prestigious award.  The residents have been key to its success with high aspirations for the Estate and the whole team has focussed on high quality design, materials and construction.

From the judges citation the project stands "as a proud testament to the merits of inspirational and robust design-led place-making."

Aylesbury Phase 1A provides a total of 261 new homes, a landmark community building, a small run of shops and a range of new streets and public spaces. The development provides a mix of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes evenly split across affordable rent, intermediate (keyworker and shared ownership) and outright sale tenures within 6 new buildings. These have been designed to create a series of safe, distinctive and sustainable neighbourhoods.  Nearly all homes benefit from being dual aspect ensuring high levels of natural daylight and ventilation, and all homes achieve Code Level 4.

Another crucial aspect of the scheme has been the creation of high quality public realm and spaces which integrate the new buildings and landscape to create a cohesive overall identity for the area. Two new key public spaces have been created in the form of a new public square in front of the new community building, and a smaller pocket park, which provides a safe area overlooked by the nearby family housing, incorporating a small gathering space, an area of seating and an informal play area for younger children.

This first phase helps to establish a benchmark standard for future regeneration of the whole Estate.  The team are very proud to have created homes, parks, spaces and streets where people want to live, feel safe and part of a community who look to the future.

Andy Rowland, Land and Projects Director at L&Q, said: “I am delighted that L&Q and its partners have won this Best New Place to Live award. This is well-deserved recognition for the high-quality affordable homes that we are building as part of the redevelopment of the Aylesbury Estate. These award-winning properties are the sort of homes that people want to live in."

Barry McCullough, Director at Levitt Bernstein, said: “This has been possible because of the excellent collaboration of the whole team involved in the project with the vision, energy and skills to deliver the highest quality. 

Robert Clark, Managing Director at Durkan, said “This award is one we are all very proud to have received.  It is the result of a true commitment to the regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate that provides quality homes in a sustainable environment and is somewhere people will enjoy living.”