Former world boxing star returns to estate to celebrate launch of new homes

21 March 2017

Former boxing champion Lloyd Honeyghan was among guests who met  current and past residents at Harvard Gardens, formerly part of the Aylesbury estate, in Walworth, to celebrate the completion of the new homes. As a one-time resident of Southwark, he was on hand to help perform the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Lloyd Honeyghan grew up in the borough and was honoured by having a building named after him.  Lloyd said: “I feel so privileged. As a teenager, I worked on East St market to make money to pay for my boxing equipment. This area means so much to me.”

As well as twice-reigning world welterweight champion Lloyd, other people being honoured include war heroes, community workers, a policeman turned author, and infamous racing tipster Prince Monolulu.

Harvard Gardens is a development of 147 homes for social rent, shared ownership and outright sale, developed and managed by L&Q housing association. 
The launch of the modern new homes marks the latest phase of the redevelopment of the Aylesbury Estate, as part of Southwark Council’s regeneration of the area.

A key player in the regeneration has been Creation Trust, the community group behind wide ranging resident engagement action on the estate. L&Q part fund Creation Trust from the capital receipts received from the sale of properties on the Aylesbury project.

The group spearheaded a project called Put it on the Map to rename blocks after memorable residents of the area. Some of these, as well as friends and relatives, were among the special guests to celebrate the landmark event.

Also among guests were the Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Kath Whittam, Cllr Mark Williams, Cabinet Member for regeneration and new homes at Southwark Council, and Cllr Fiona Colley, Cabinet Member for finance, modernisation and performance at Southwark Council.

Cllr Williams said: “Harvard Gardens is a welcome addition to the borough with a great mix of social rent homes and low cost homes to buy, along with homes for sale. It was great to meet some of the new residents who have just moved straight over from the Aylesbury into their new homes; we are absolutely committed to working with the existing residents of the estate to stay in the local area and have the widest choice of homes to move into.

“Naming the blocks after well-known local people and Southwark institutions, all chosen by the local community, has helped the area take ownership of this great new development and made our new residents feel welcomed and part of their surrounding area.”

Matthew Peel, Assistant Director of NBHD services at L&Q, said: “We are proud to have worked with Southwark Council to create these much-needed homes which will consolidate the regeneration of this area. It is the final phase of redevelopment of Harvard Gardens, following on from our work at the award winning Albany Place scheme. As a charitable housing association, we are passionate about providing the best housing people can afford and take pride in not only building homes, but sustaining these homes and community in the long term.”

Representing Creation Trust at the event, CEO Charlotte Benstead said: “The Put it on the Map project has already seen some famous Walworth families honoured including the Arments who have been selling Pie and Mash on Westmoreland Road for over 100 years.

"This latest part of the naming project brings us bang up to date with a selection of names that really reflect the diversity and vibrancy of south London. A bus conductor and a boxer are remembered at Harvard Gardens.  We hope that they are not only tributes but go on to inspire people to be the best they can be where ever they live.”

Londoners, Sam Flowers (29) and Ayesha Brown (26), recently bought their first property at Harvard Gardens through the shared ownership scheme. They opted for a two-bedroom apartment which would give them plenty of room to accommodate their family in the future.

Sam said: “As our deposit wasn’t as big as we’d hoped it would be, shared ownership was the ideal scheme for us. We could never have bought a property so close to central London without it. We were originally looking to purchase a one-bedroom apartment, but then we were told that we could actually afford two bedrooms. We were so pleased and chose to go ahead and buy the two-bedroom apartment, as it means we won’t need to move for some time if we decide to start a family.” 

Page last updated: 21 March 2017