Ledbury Towers set for major refurbishment

24 October 2018

The Ledbury Towers looks set to undergo a complete refurbishment, including the required strengthening works plus new lifts, windows, roofs and lighting.

The council’s Cabinet members will discuss a report at their meeting next week (Tuesday 30 October) that recommends the four high rise blocks be refurbished, and new homes built on land next to the blocks – at least half of which will be council homes – to help finance the refurbishment costs. The rest of the costs would be met from the council’s ring-fenced housing fund (the Housing Revenue Account).

Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We know it has been a difficult time for many people but I feel we are at a point where we can start moving forward and get this work done to fix the homes in the four tower blocks and use this opportunity to build new, family homes on the estate to help meet costs and help local families living in overcrowded conditions.

I want to extend my thanks to the residents in the tower blocks and the wider estate, members of the Resident Project Team and the Ledbury Tenants and Residents Association for their invaluable help and commitment to the future of the tower blocks and very much hope that we continue to work together as the works progress to ensure the right outcomes for the Ledbury community.”

Over the summer, Ledbury estate residents and former residents of the Towers - who have the right to return - and non-resident leaseholders were consulted on four main options:

  • A: a basic refurbishment of the towers to meet health and safety essential standards, paid for by the Housing Revenue Account.
  • B: a higher standard of refurbishment of the towers, plus building new homes around them for local, overcrowded families and other local residents in housing need. The additional refurbishment expenditure and the cost of the new council homes are partly met from the sale of new homes and partly from the Housing Revenue Account.
  • C: a mixture of refurbishment to the higher standard, and demolition of some, but not all, towers with a replacement of new homes for local overcrowded families and other local residents in housing need. The additional refurbishment expenditure and the cost of the new council homes being partly met from the sale of new homes.
  • D: Demolition of all four towers, and replacement with new homes. The additional cost of the new council homes, being partly met from the sale of new homes.

If it goes ahead, the refurbishment would be done in phases allowing those residents still living in the Towers to move into one of the empty homes temporarily while their blocks are completed. Just over 150 tenants have already moved out of the Towers, but everyone will have the choice to return if they wish, once the refurbishments are completed.

The final decision will be made by Cabinet members at their meeting on Tuesday 30 October. The report is available online at http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=302&MId=6085&Ver=4

Page last updated: 22 December 2023

Privacy settings