First Chance to See Planned Future of Lennox Estate |
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Images released of two blocks the council intends to build December 10, 2025 New images have emerged showing plans to transform a Roehampton estate with 81 new council homes. Wandsworth Council wants to build two apartment blocks on the Lennox Estate, for families in need. The council’s planning application for the scheme is now available on its website, with full details of the proposals. A total of 56 flats is proposed to be built in a 14-storey block on the estate, with a further 25 flats planned in a six-storey block. The blocks would be arranged around a new games court, which would replace the estate’s existing one. Residents on the estate who are overcrowded or looking to downsize, or those in priority need on the housing waiting list, would be prioritised for the new homes, which would be provided at social rent. The estate was earmarked for redevelopment under the authority’s Homes for Wandsworth scheme, which aims to deliver 1,000 new council homes across the borough by 2029. The council originally considered proposals for one of the apartment blocks to reach up to 18 storeys in height, but this was fiercely opposed by residents last year for being too tall. The authority’s finalised proposals for the estate have now been submitted in an application, which the Planning Committee will decide on in due course. The council said the redesigned games court would be more welcoming and flexible in use as it would accommodate informal sports – including football, basketball, netball and gymnastics – while acting as a meeting space for residents.
The authority pledged to provide new and replacement open space and play areas so that there would be no net loss of open space through the scheme, along with community space on the ground floor of the 14-storey building. The estate would also undergo major transport changes under the plans, with part of Arabella Drive closed to vehicles to make way for the new homes. Traffic would be rerouted along Ludovick Walk so that it would provide one-way access through this part of the estate.
The council would introduce controlled parking to prevent people from parking on the estate except for existing residents, who would be given free permits. It pledged to improve walking and cycling routes across the estate, provide better lighting and make underused spaces greener and more playful. The council said there is an urgent need for new homes, with more than 11,000 households on its housing waiting list as of March this year – including 3,771 homeless households. Planning documents said the scheme would play “a vital role in addressing this housing crisis while delivering long-term community benefits”.
The documents added: “Given the pressing demand for new affordable housing in Wandsworth and in the context of making efficient use of available land, the Lennox Estate provides a unique opportunity to deliver much-needed affordable housing whilst also improving the public green spaces, play spaces and community use in line with the objectives of the Homes for Wandsworth programme.” Charlotte Lilywhite - Local Democracy Reporter
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