You are here: Homepage \ Aylesbury Area Action Plan adopted!

Homepage

Aylesbury Area Action Plan adopted!

9 November 2009

Southwark’s Council Assembly  formally adopted the plan for the £2.4 billion regeneration of the Aylesbury estate in Walworth on January 27.

The Aylesbury Area Action Plan (AAP) has been developed by Southwark Council and masterplanners Urban Initiatives after two years of extensive consultation with residents.

Supported by 82% of the residents who attended the final exhibition of the plans for the area, the AAP is a blueprint for the new neighbourhood and aims to create a strong and vibrant community who will live in high quality homes and enjoy great streets, parks and open spaces, excellent public transport and a wide range of facilities.

The adoption of the plan means the physical regeneration of the estate has the green light to go ahead.  Much work is already underway with construction progressing well on the first 260 homes and a resource centre.  The rehousing process has also begun for over 600 residents on the estate while almost 20 per cent of leaseholders have been bought back by the council. A partnership arrangement with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has also ensured funding is in place for a large part of the scheme.

Two new schools in the area are also nearing completion. Walworth Academy has been completely rebuilt and Michael Faraday Primary School has been renovated to ensure increased places, expanded community facilities and a new integrated adult learning centre. Plans are also being developed for the Walworth lower school site. It will become a 750 place boys’ school to meet the high demand for boys’ places in the borough.   Burgess Park which bounds the estate has recently received £6 million in funding.

Jean Bartlett, chair of the Aylesbury TRA said:

“The effort that the council and the Aylesbury New Deal for Communities team put into showing the Plan to local people was excellent and events were well attended – we were often run off our feet.

“Local people were very impressed with the Plan, the way the council did its job and the way that the new community will look. We’ve been really happy to be consulted, our views have been taken into account every step of the way, and every day residents have been playing a part in this huge plan through family fun days, briefings with the more typically hard to reach groups on the estate, general exhibitions and a local road show.

“Now we are all looking to our exciting future.

Councillor Paul Noblet, executive member for regeneration said: “The Area Action Plans provide a broad vision for the rejuvenation of the Aylesbury and Canada Water, which are steering the developments already underway.

“The Aylesbury is a massive 15-20 year project, and the first phase is already under construction. It will revolutionise the way that Aylesbury residents live, work, learn and enjoy their lives.

“Throughout the AAP process we have been helped so much by excellent relationships with the residents, who have been really clear about what they like and changes they want.

“We are now well on the way to seeing a completely regenerated borough for both existing and new residents to enjoy.”