Secretary of State overturns previous decision regarding Aylesbury estate compulsory purchase order

25 April 2017

On 21st April, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, notified Southwark Council that he would consent to judgment and ask the court to quash his decision not to confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order for the remaining properties in Phase 1 of the regeneration.

Since the Secretary of State’s Decision Letter dated 16 September 2016 the council has continued to make further better offers to leaseholders.  The number of leaseholders on the Order Land has now been reduced to seven. The revised offers take into account the increases in values in the local property market and the availability of additional local properties which were considered affordable and suitable for residents’ needs.

Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “We are really pleased that the Secretary of State has quashed his previous decision, and will now allow us to hold a new CPO inquiry. We remain committed to regenerating the Aylesbury Estate for the benefit of local residents.”

A Consent Order is being agreed with the Secretary of State’s lawyers and will be forwarded to the Interested Parties (Aylesbury leaseholders, their legal representatives and the 35% Campaign) shortly for their agreement.  If the Court decides to quash the decision, then in accordance with the terms of the Consent Order the Secretary of State will arrange a new public inquiry to decide the merits of the Compulsory Purchase Order, to be held as soon as practicable.

The regeneration of the Aylesbury estate will bring the following benefits for local people:

  • 50 per cent affordable homes, with 75 per cent of those at social rents and the remainder as shared ownership or shared equity homes for leaseholders
  • mixed communities - between social rent, shared ownership and private sale
  • improving existing open space, (invested £11m to improve Burgess Park for local residents, with a further £6m to be spent over the next three years, and improved grounds maintenance)
  • £30m investment in local education including a brand new building for Faraday Primary School and a new secondary school  - University Academy of Engineering Southbank
  • A brand new library and health centre for local people
  • Working with the Creation Trust to support the economic and social regeneration of the estate by helping residents into education, training and employment, as well as supporting a range of other projects and programmes Creation run including their resident involvement activities

The Secretary of State will be paying Southwark’s reasonable legal costs to the date of the Consent Order.

Page last updated: 25 April 2017

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