 Repair costs on the Aylesbury Estate would have been close to �100m |
One of Europe's largest public housing estates constructed in the 1970s is to be demolished and rebuilt. About 7,500 people live in 2,780 homes on the dilapidated Aylesbury Estate in Southwark, south London.
Councillors voted unanimously for it to be handed over to not-for-profit housing associations for redevelopment over a 10-year period.
The development will be made up of 2,200 social housing units and 2,700 homes for sale or shared ownership.
The programme will begin with the construction of 500 new homes so people can be moved over in stages.
'Unacceptable'
Piers Corbyn, a spokesman for Tenants First, a group which has campaigned against demolition, said: "We believe the council should be spending money now on repairs and refurbishment.
"The worst and slowest way to move forward is demolition.
"There are vast profits to be made from the sale of private homes - it's utter madness and it's done for plunder."
Tony Taitte, Chair of the Aylesbury New Deal for Communities Partnership Board, said although not universally popular, the majority of residents supported demolition.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Richard Porter said research and consultation showed demolition was the best way to improve the quality of life for all residents.
"Years of under investment have led to poor heating, poor maintenance and often terrible living conditions. That is just not acceptable in the 21st Century."
A council spokesman said residents would be involved in drawing up the development plans. A council report said the estate had needed major repairs for a decade and in order to have met basic decent homes standards over the next 10 years, repair costs would have been close to �100m.
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Years of under investment have led to poor heating, poor maintenance and often terrible living conditions
