Work starts on 49 new council homes in South Bermondsey

Southwark Council is building 49 new council homes on the Rennie estate in South Bermondsey.

Southwark Council and The Hill Group held a breaking ground event to mark the start of the building work, last week (15 February).

The council is building 49 new council homes on the Rennie estate in a part five, part 12 storey development.

The council is also making other improvements to the estate, including a new outdoor gym; a new children’s playground; extending the existing playground and improving the lighting at the back of the estate.

The development site was a former car park, and some of the car parking spaces will be replaced as part of the development.

Cllr Darren Merrill, Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Homelessness, said:

“I’m delighted that we are making a start on building these new council homes for local people in Southwark. In these challenging times, the security of a new home is more important than ever, and we know the residents of Rennie estate will benefit from the improvements being made here as well as those who will move into a new home”.

Rennie estate is part of Southwark’s wider council homes building programme, which is building thousands of new homes across the borough to tackle the housing crisis.

Simon Trice, Managing Director, The Hill Group said:

“We are extremely pleased to be working with Southwark Council on this essential scheme to create new homes for the local community. We are looking forward to producing a development which is not only highly sustainable but also improves the recreational space, which will give residents a place to come together and form new friendships.”

In line with the council’s local lettings policy, at least 50 per cent of the new council homes here will be offered to local tenants in housing need already living in the immediate area. The remaining homes will be allocated to others on the council’s wider housing waiting list.

The development is expected to complete in autumn 2024.