A High Court judge has refused a judicial review request from Adam Turk, a resident of the Lesnes Estate in Thamesmead, South East London, challenging Bexley Council's decision to approve housing association Peabody's plans to demolish the 1960s estate and build up to 1,950 new homes. Turk described the outcome as disappointing and said it would take “a miracle” to stop the demolition.
Legal challenge focused on environmental impact
Turk lodged the claim earlier this year, arguing that planning documents downplayed the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions from the demolition. His lawyers from the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) have triggered a mechanism for a one-hour hearing later this month, but Turk admitted this is unlikely to change the judge's decision. “It doesn’t look good. A lot of the laws are all against us,” he said, adding that he has been fighting the plans for three years.
Only 30 households remain on the estate
The Lesnes Estate, a brutalist housing project built in the 1960s and featured in the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange, is now largely vacant. Only around 30 households remain, as many residents have left ahead of the planned demolition. Peabody has offered financial support to current residents to move elsewhere.
A Peabody spokesperson said: “Resident homeowners have the chance either to buy a 1960s home like theirs on the neighbouring estate, a new home in the brand-new development, or another home in Thamesmead – or elsewhere – if that’s what they choose.” The housing association is offering market value plus 10% compensation, and will contribute up to half of the equity to bridge price gaps between current and new homes.
Peabody plans nearly 230% increase in housing
Peabody's plans will replace 596 Lesnes homes with 1,950 new ones, a near 230% increase in available housing. The developer is confident the development will benefit the area. Turk, however, described estate regeneration as “a slow death of council housing as everything’s getting replaced with this luxury property”.
