Lennox Estate Plans for New Flats 'Go Too Far'

Over 100 residents object to scheme which includes 14 storey tower

Joy Ma, 62, on the Lennox Estate, Roehampton. Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon

February 9, 2026

Residents on a Roehampton estate have said plans to build 81 new council flats on their central green space “go too far”.

Wandsworth Council wants to build two apartment blocks at the heart of the Lennox Estate, in Roehampton, with one reaching 14 storeys in height and the other six storeys.

Tenants and leaseholders said they felt the plans would put the already crowded estate, congested local roads and overstretched services under too much strain, across 122 written objections. They said the 14-storey block was too tall and would overshadow neighbours’ homes.

Residents also raised concerns about proposed traffic arrangements, which would see part of Arabella Drive closed to vehicles and traffic rerouted along Ludovick Walk. Although controlled parking would be introduced for existing residents, they felt the estate’s limited parking spaces would still be put under more pressure.

Locals said any extra congestion would make access issues on the estate worse, which they claimed had already been laid bare by emergency services struggling to get onto Burke Close when a gas explosion damaged properties in March last year.

Joy Ma, 62, said the plans “go too far”, when the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited the estate to speak to residents. She felt the scale of the scheme was unfair on residents, who already lived on a crowded estate, and said she wished she had not bought her flat 10 years ago.

Joy said: “We bought the place. Say you’ve got a house in a village and suddenly someone wants to build a high-rise opposite to you, would you accept it?”

She added: “They don’t care, honestly. It’s very selfish because we saved a lot of money, we bought the flat, we don’t benefit from them… but now they want to build more and then we have to pay.”

Francisco Montero, 78, questioned why the council could not develop spacious sites before building on the estate, or prioritise taking over long-term empty homes.

Francisco said: “They only want you to support them. Are they going to support you? No way.”

Francisco Montero, 78. Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon

While the council has pledged to provide new and replacement open space so there would be no net loss under the plans, residents said they did not want the existing space to be cut up.

One objector on the authority’s website said this green space could not be “properly replaced by small or fragmented landscaped areas” and “its loss would harm community wellbeing and everyday quality of life”.

She wrote: “While affordable housing is important, it should not come at the expense of protected open space, safe access, proper estate management or the living conditions of existing residents.”

Objectors also said they were concerned about adding more homes to the estate when they claimed it was already suffering from major disrepair, including damp, mould, vermin and lift breakdowns.

One resident called on the authority to “invest in the housing stock they already have and serve the existing tenants with the basic facilities that they deserve and should be able to expect”.

But M Khan, 44, told the LDRS he supported the scheme as it would help to tackle overcrowding on the estate. “I need a four-bedroom property, we live in a three-bed,” he said.

M Khan, 44, supports the proposals. Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon

People living 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.

CGI of the proposals for the Lennox Estate, Roehampton. Picture: Wandsworth Council/HCUK Group

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 slashed this to 14 storeys after backlash from residents.

The blocks would be arranged around a new games court, which would replace the estate’s existing one.

A petition signed by residents opposing the scheme claimed the council’s engagement with residents had been limited and inadequate for plans of this scale. It asked the authority to work with them “on a more appropriately community-led alternative”.

The petition said: “New housing requires genuine collaboration with residents and a scheme that respects the character and needs of the local community. The current proposal does not achieve that.”

A Wandsworth Council spokesperson told the LDRS: “The plans for 81 new homes for council rent on the Lennox Estate will prioritise local residents who are currently in overcrowded or under-occupied households. Any remaining homes will be offered to those with a priority need for housing on the waiting list.

“The plans will provide new homes in a range of sizes, including family accommodation and nine wheelchair-accessible homes, that are designed to meet housing need on the Lennox Estate and across the borough. Alongside this, we will also deliver improved pedestrian access to Upper Richmond Road, tackle longstanding parking issues for residents, and create a new pocket park with play areas along with the rejuvenated brook.

“As a listening council, we’ve worked closely with residents and used their feedback to evolve these proposals, which have already resulted in reducing the height of one of the buildings and increasing the amount of green space available. We will continue to do so as we develop plans to bring much needed high-quality new homes and community amenities to the Lennox Estate.”

The council’s Planning Committee will decide on the application in due course. Residents can still comment on the plans on the council’s planning portal.

Charlotte Lilywhite - Local Democracy Reporter