Nunhead Estate residents protested over the weekend against a rooftop and infill development they claim is “dangerous”, saying the council is “riding roughshod” over their concerns.
Both leaseholders and tenants are angry about Southwark Council’s proposal to build 27 rooftop flats and eighteen flats in infill buildings on the site.
They claim the development will lead to an increase in noise during the construction period, worsen overcrowding on the estate and that the new additions to the buildings will be unsafe.
The buildings affected are Goodwin, Creed, Tilling, Lancefield and Glover House, SE15 3PQ. which all were built between 1950 – 60.
“Most people on the estate don’t want this, but the council are trying to ride roughshod over us,” said one resident, who wanted to remain unnamed. “The building I live in has a lot of structural problems because of age and badly built drainage and dampness, but they [the Council] are just not interested.”
The resident cited an ARUP report from August 2020, which raised doubts that buildings could cope with added wind pressure when gaining extra storeys, and also highlighted the risk of disproportionate collapse in blocks that predate the 1970s.
The council sought to reassure residents’ concerns. “We would never, under any circumstances, allow works to go ahead where there was any doubt to the safety of our residents or the structural integrity of the building,” said Cllr Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for council homes and homelessness.
She continued: “We have currently engaged professional, external services to review existing structures, fire safety and all the other information that we need to make a sound decision about progressing such a scheme, at any estate.”
Another resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, claimed the prospect of the development was causing elderly residents on the estate “severe” worries and that they are now “too scared to open up letters from the council.”
Seventy-three-year-old Nunhead Estate resident, Mable Dalboa, voiced such concerns. “The building’s old. You can’t put more on top. It’s not safe.”
“I’m not well and I’m worried about the noise and dust,” she added.
The protestors have also complained that the council is not consulting residents effectively, with one claiming the “consultation process is completely hollow and does not feel real.
“The council is not listening to us,” they continued.
Residents on the estate have sent an open letter to the council condemning the plans, which has attracted signators from more than 60 households.
In defence of the development, Cllr Stephanie Cryan said: “London’s housing crisis is hitting Southwark hard.”
“We have 3,500 households living in temporary accommodation and more than 16,500 households on our waiting list for a home. Half of these households include children, many of whom are living in overcrowded and cramped homes.”
“There is a real human cost to inaction, which is why we are looking at more than 70 sites across the borough to build new council homes,” she added. As part of this work, we are investigating the possibility of extending a number of our estates upwards.”
Still, the residents maintained they were “by no means objecting to building new social homes.”
“What we are highlighting is these properties need to be built on new ground and not on top of spaces where residents are trying to live in comfort amidst the current condition and poor security of the blocks.”
“This is not how the council should go about it: it should not build homes by destroying others,” they added.