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Regeneration Overview

The Aylesbury Estate which lies to the east of Walworth Road, and north of Burgess Park, in Southwark, is one of the most well-known estates in Europe. The estate encompasses 28.5 hectares and is home to over 7,500 people.

Since 1999 the Aylesbury New Deal for Communities (NDC) has been working in partnership with Southwark Council to deliver a £56 million social programme on the estate. Benefits for residents have included more jobs, greater economic prosperity, improved educational results for young people on the estate and lower crime levels. 

To continue the transformation of the area improvements to the physical environment were also needed.  On September 27 2005 Southwark Council’s executive committee made the decision to demolish the estate in stages over the next 15 to 20 years.

An Area Action plan (AAP) has been adopted by Southwark Council  for the new area. The AAP is a blueprint for the new neighbourhood and aims to create a strong and vibrant community who will live in 4,200 high quality mixed-tenure homes and enjoy great streets, parks and open spaces, excellent public transport and a wide range of facilities.

Much work on the regeneration scheme 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.