Residents on the Achilles Street estate vote for new homes in Lewisham’s first estate regeneration ballot

The proposal to redevelop the area around Achilles Street in New Cross was backed by 73% of eligible residents in the first ballot of its kind to take place in the borough. Overall, 92% of eligible residents cast their vote. This is the highest turn-out for any resident ballot for estate regeneration.

The redevelopment will see around 450 new homes built with half as council housing for existing residents and people on the housing waiting list. The remaining half will be private housing to help fund the redevelopment.

The new homes will be built by the council and its housing company, Lewisham Homes, to modern energy efficient and safety standards with features such as sprinkler systems and CCTV. The development will also give residents improved access to public and green spaces with communal gardens or balconies.

Building work will be phased allowing residents to stay in their current home until their new one is ready. All existing residents will be offered new homes on the same terms with no increase in rent.

The ballot followed an extensive consultation process which included weekly resident engagement meetings held by the Council in a newly created, onsite community space. These weekly engagement forums have allowed people to meet and put forward queries about the estate’s redevelopment. This entire process has brought residents together, with a Tenants and Residents’ Association to now be established within the meeting space.

Lewisham Council will now work closely with residents to appoint an architect to finalise the design of the housing with each phase of building work expected to take up to two years to complete.