Ground-breaking marks start of hundreds more council homes

Southwark Council has celebrated a major milestone in the renewal of Old Kent Road’s Ledbury estate.

Work has begun on Phase 2 of the council’s long-term plan to provide modern, safe, high-quality homes for residents of the four Ledbury towers. These towers, which were constructed in the 1960s using Large Panel System methods, were found to have fire and structural risks.

It will include 215 new council homes, 45 private sale homes to help pay for the scheme, improved public spaces, two new commercial units and new community facilities.

These homes are in addition to the new homes in the first phase of works which will be finished later this year. Overall, the Ledbury estate renewal will provide 340 new homes, 224 of which will be council homes to replace those from the old, unsafe towers.

The council will also build an additional 51 new council homes, taking the total to 275 council homes, as well as 14 shared ownership homes and 65 homes for private sale.

All are designed in partnership with residents to ensure the estate meets local needs for decades to come.

Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, joined Ledbury residents, Southwark councillors and contractors on site for a ground-breaking event last week (18 March) to celebrate the start of construction on Phase 2.

It follows months of preparation, engagement and detailed design work to ensure the project reflects the priorities of the local community.

The new council homes are additional to the more than 3,000 new council homes already built or under construction in Southwark.

Phase 2 forms part of the council’s wider investment in the estate, replacing the old, unsafe tower blocks and delivering high-quality new council homes that meet today’s safety, sustainability and accessibility standards. Improvements to green spaces, walking routes and community facilities will help create a neighbourhood that is welcoming, resilient and future-proof.

The council will continue to work closely with residents throughout the construction to minimise disruption and provide regular updates on progress.

Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said:

“Today’s ground-breaking is a significant moment for the Ledbury Estate community. This phase of construction brings us closer to delivering the safe, warm and genuinely affordable homes that residents deserve.

We are grateful to everyone who has worked with us so far, and we remain committed to involving residents as the project progresses.

It’s fantastic to see work beginning on these new council homes, to add to the thousands already built or under construction in our borough.”