A 1960s tower block in Camberwell, South London, riddled with dangerous fire safety defects, is to be demolished after council bosses deemed it beyond economical repair. The decision for Marie Curie House on the Sceaux Gardens estate follows a specialist assessment that revealed critical risks to life and structural stability.
Critical Fire Safety Defects Lead to Demolition Decision
Southwark Council's cabinet approved the demolition plan on Tuesday, December 2. A detailed building survey uncovered multiple, severe fire safety failings within the block, including explosion hazards and structural degradation caused by humidity. The council concluded that retrofitting the building to meet modern safety standards would cost at least £23 million, a figure that would likely rise further.
Councillor Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, stated that safety is the paramount concern. "The safety of people living in our homes and estates is our top priority as a landlord," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "A specialist assessment has found Marie Curie House is a substantial fire risk, and as the building is near the end of its lifespan and beyond economical repair so we will now empty the building and demolish it."
A Troubled History and Relocation of Residents
The building's location adds a poignant layer to the story; it stands opposite Lakanal House, where a devastating fire in 2009 claimed six lives, including those of three children. The council had initially planned a refurbishment for Marie Curie House after fire safety issues were identified in 2020, leading to the relocation of residents in May 2021.
Of the block's original 98 two-bedroom flats, only six households remain in residence. The council has already made home loss payments of £6,500 per tenant, totalling an estimated £552,000. Furthermore, the authority has purchased eight of the eleven leasehold properties at an estimated cost of around £2.247 million.
Future Plans for New Council Homes on the Estate
Looking to the future, the demolition opens the door for new social housing in the borough. Cllr Dennis confirmed that the council will explore all options for building more council homes on the site and nearby. Southwark Council prides itself on having "built more council homes than any other local authority landlord," with over 3,000 started or completed across the borough.
A potential plan involves merging the Marie Curie House site with the adjacent Florian and Racine tower block sites. These two blocks already secured planning consent for 79 new council homes in April 2022, suggesting a larger, comprehensive redevelopment for this part of the Sceaux Gardens estate could be on the horizon.
