Lambeth Council Set to Reverse Demolition of Cressingham Gardens and Central Hill Estates
After a decade-long effort, two 1960s council estates in south London, Cressingham Gardens and Central Hill, have been spared from demolition. A meeting of the Lambeth council cabinet is anticipated next week to overturn previous plans for demolition. Residents maintain that these estates hold architectural value and are well-liked, contrasting with the council’s earlier assertions of their poor condition. Following the May elections, the Greens, now in charge, stand against demolition. A review conducted in 2022 by Sir Bob Kerslake highlighted a lack of trust in the council regarding redevelopment. Cressingham Gardens fosters community, while Central Hill, created by Rosemary Stjernstedt, is designed to enhance natural light. Green leader Martin Abrams and housing cabinet member Pete Elliott stressed the importance of repairing homes and bolstering communities.
Key facts
- Cressingham Gardens and the Central Hill estate in Lambeth, south London, have been saved from demolition after more than a decade of campaigning.
- Lambeth council's cabinet is expected to reverse the demolition plans at a meeting next week.
- The Greens won the most seats in May elections and now run Lambeth as a minority administration, opposing demolition.
- A 2022 review of Homes Lambeth questioned the redevelopment plans, finding the net number of social rent homes to be created was very small.
- Sir Bob Kerslake, former head of the civil service, led the review and said feedback was uniformly negative and trust in the council exceptionally low.
- Both estates were designed by a team of Lambeth architects led by Ted Hollamby, who favoured lower-rise housing over tower blocks.
- Cressingham Gardens adjoins Brockwell Park and was built with front doors facing each other and green spaces for play.
- The Central Hill project was led by Rosemary Stjernstedt and built on a sloping site near Crystal Palace to maximise natural light.
Entities
Artists
- Ted Hollamby
- Rosemary Stjernstedt
- Sir Bob Kerslake
- Martin Abrams
- Pete Elliott
- David Rowe
- Sam Mellish
- Simon Elmer
Institutions
- Lambeth council
- Homes Lambeth
- Green Party
- Labour Party
- Architects for Social Housing
- Alamy
- In Pictures
- Getty Images
- The Guardian
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Lambeth
- Cressingham Gardens
- Central Hill
- Brockwell Park
- Crystal Palace