Lambeth Council will consider on 21 October a proposal to preserve the Central Hill and Cressingham Gardens estates in South London. A move that could end a 12‑year fight against demolition and shift the borough’s housing strategy.
The decision follows a cost‑analysis that found full redevelopment would exceed the borough’s budget, prompting officials to opt instead for repairing and upgrading the existing units.
Council officers also dropped Knights Walk and Trinity Rise from the New Homes Hexagon Portfolio after the first phase left the second‑phase site unusable, signalling a shift away from large‑scale rebuilding.
Councillor Pete Elliott said the proposal would bring relief to residents who have campaigned for over a decade, while Councillor Scott Ainslie praised the move for preserving community ties and 1960s architectural heritage.
Residents will receive a formal letter before the cabinet meeting, and updates will appear on the estates’ websites. The council plans to use the saved capital to target smaller infill sites and new housing projects elsewhere in Lambeth.
If the cabinet approves, the decision would set a precedent for other boroughs, demonstrating a preference for repair and community retention over demolition.