RESIDENTS dwelling on the UK’s ugliest property have slammed the council’s plans to flatten their properties – saying they like it.
Almost 2,000 homes are set to be constructed on the Lesnes Property in south London – with current properties dealing with demolition.
Residents are battling to avoid wasting the Lesnes PropertyCredit score: Google
However lifelong locals concern they might be pressured to maneuver if the “reckless” plans go forward.
Adam Turk, 50, advised MyLondon: “In the event that they do achieve knocking this place down, they solely need to put 1 / 4 of us again right here.
“I don’t earn some huge cash, so I’m going to be financially displaced.”
Johnnel Olabie, 56, stated: “It’s simply reckless so that you can put further strain on folks’s wallets.
“The property has folks above 60, 70 and 80, they’re previous. They don’t know the place to go and they’re actually in a annoyed state.
“That’s how we shortly received ourselves collectively to say, ‘You realize what? We need to battle again’.”
Tenants on the property staged a protest towards the deliberate demolition – by staying in an empty house for 3 nights final month.
They stated the protest was meant to level out that there are numerous vacant properties on the property which might home new tenants.
Johnnel stated that developer Peabody had provided to purchase his home for a lot lower than he wished – and that it was “sort of bullying”.
He additionally claimed that the housing affiliation had let the property turn out to be an eyesore to place off residents.
Peabody stated: “We need to make sure the group can keep collectively and have provided all Peabody tenants and resident owners on the property a brand new house within the neighbouring new improvement.
“Owners will be capable of transfer at no further price, as a part of our shared fairness supply.
“By dwelling in new, extra vitality environment friendly properties, residents also needs to profit from decreased vitality payments.
“As a not-for-profit housing affiliation, our precedence is to offer inexpensive housing and assist native communities.
“We reinvest all earnings into offering properties and companies and final 12 months spent £113m on current properties in addition to constructing new ones.
A spokesperson added: “Our rents have been £679m decrease than the market in 2021/22 and final 12 months we constructed greater than 1,000 inexpensive properties, the bulk for social lease.
“The regeneration of South Thamesmead is already seeing us ship model new social properties for a whole bunch of native folks, with the typical lease for a 2-bed house being £101 every week.
“The redevelopment of the Lesnes Property (phases 3 to 7 of our masterplan) has obtained widespread assist from the area people, with greater than 70 per cent of residents voting in favour of it.
“As with earlier phases, we might be constructing prime quality, energy-efficient, inexpensive properties for native folks, alongside much-needed further properties to assist tackle the housing scarcity within the borough.”