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History behind the decision

It has been recognised that the Aylesbury Estate does not meet modern day living standards. 

The estate was built quickly and cheaply between 1967 and 1977, as part of a slum clearance programme. The design of the estate was influenced by the architect Le Cobussier, who designed Unite d'Habitation in Marseilles, an estate influenced by ocean liners.  When it was constructed the Aylesbury was part of a futuristic plan to link estates between the Elephant and Castle and Peckham with walkways which would separate roads from the elevated pedestrian passages, where the car was king.

The design of the estate proved impractical for inner city London.  The large tower blocks are overshadowing, the estate is difficult to negotiate at street level, and the walkways became areas that bred antisocial and criminal behaviour.  Poor construction standards also mean that the Aylesbury is now costly to maintain.

Steps to regenerate the area over the last 10 years have included:

  • 1999: Establishment of the Aylesbury New Deal for Communities scheme. The Aylesbury was the first place former Prime Minister Tony Blair visited after his election in 1997, the prime minister rushed to the estate to make its 7,500 "forgotten people" a symbol of New Labour's determination to tackle social exclusion. The estate then became a "New Deal for Communities" area and benefited from Government assistance. In 1999 it was given a budget of £56m to improve life chances for residents).

 

  • In 2001, residents were urged to allow the estate to be transferred to the ownership of a private housing association but they rejected the plan with 73% against.

 

  • 2002: Southwark Council decided to retain ownership of the estate and undertake refurbishment, environmental improvement and community safety works. These works proved to be cost prohibitive, but more importantly would not achieve quality of life improvements and socio economic benefits required for the for the area.

The two previous development options did not capture residents aspirations.  Southwark Council and the NDC undertook a substantial body of work in the summer of 2005 to garner residents opinion.

  • September 27, 2005: The council’s executive committee decided on a redevelopment strategy. This was supported by over 50 percent of residents.