Plans to knock down one of the original Brutalist estates in Thamesmead have been put on hold by the High Court after a resident won a legal battle to have the decision scrutinised.
A judicial review will now take place into Bexley Council’s decision to approve plans to demolish the 596-home Lesnes Estate, off Yarnton Way, to make way for up to 1,950 homes.
Adam Turk, who brought the claim against Bexley and the Peabody housing association, said he was “elated and very relieved” that Mr Justice Choudhury ruled in his favour on Wednesday.
“Justice is prevailing and for the first time, we are being heard,” he said. “It’s been a long road, this. It’s been two-and-a-half years. That’s how long we’ve waited to be able to come into court and challenge this planning application.”
Turk’s legal team had argued that insufficient information about the proposal’s greenhouse gas emissions was provided in the planning application, and thus Bexley councillors were misled when giving their approval in 2022.
Officials at Bexley rubber-stamped the decision in December. Most residents have left after Peabody offered them the value of their homes plus 10 per cent, and much of the estate is now dilapidated.
Bexley and Peabody argued that there had been no breach of planning laws and even if there had been a breach, it would not have made a material difference to the outcome.
The judge ruled in favour of the residents, saying there was an argument to be had over whether the full emissions information could have swayed the decision. He said the judicial review would be likely to take place in October or November.
Referring to points made by Peabody and Bexley’s lawyers, the judge said: “They might leave him stumbling on the ropes, but they’re not quite the knockout blow.”
Turk said two weeks ago that he expected the case to fail after a legal setback. Emmanuel Ladele, a fellow Lesnes resident, said he was “very delighted” as he had also expected the judicial review request to be denied.
Maria Ivanonva, who has lived on the estate for almost 20 years and she said she felt “positive” about the judicial review.
She said: “A home is not just property. It is where our memories live, where our families grow, and where our lives are built. I sincerely hope that fairness, justice and compassion will always have a place in our society.”
Peabody has controlled Thamesmead since 2014 and has sought to redevelop some of the original Brutalist estates built by the Greater London Council in the late 1960s. Tavy Bridge, to the north of the Lesnes Estate, has been rebuilt as Southmere Village. At the west end of the Lesnes Estate, Coralline Walk, where the first residents were given a civic reception in 1968, was demolished in 2020.
Peabody said: “The majority of local residents backed our proposal to redevelop the Lesnes Estate, which will help us expand our work and create an even better place for local people to live.
“We’re committed to supporting residents from the Lesnes Estate as we create 2,800 much-needed new homes in South Thamesmead. This includes ensuring that Peabody tenants and resident homeowners can stay in the neighbourhood if they wish to through our strong package of financial support.”
Bexley Council has been approached for comment.
Cameron Blackshaw is the Local Democracy Reporter for Greenwich and Bexley. The Greenwich Wire is a partner in the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which is a BBC-funded initiative to ensure councils are covered properly in local media. Additional reporting by Darryl Chamberlain.
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