Residents on the Lennox Estate in Roehampton, South London, have been informed that controversial plans to build a 14-storey council tower block at the centre of the estate have been scrapped. Wandsworth Conservatives, who now lead Wandsworth Council, delivered the news via a leaflet to residents.
Background of the Plans
The authority, while under Labour control before May's local elections, had submitted plans to build two apartment blocks on the estate for families in need. The plans, which the Conservatives had strongly criticised, included a 14-storey block with 56 homes on green space, and a further 25 homes in a six-storey building. The development would have also featured a new games court, replacing the existing one.
Conservative Leaflet Announcement
A new leaflet from Wandsworth Conservatives to residents says plans to build a “huge tower on the green won’t now happen”. The council declined to comment on the decision, or whether this means all 81 homes will be scrapped – not just the taller tower block.
Homes for Wandsworth Programme
The estate was set for new homes under the previous Labour administration’s 1,000 homes programme, known as Homes for Wandsworth, which aimed to build 1,000 new council homes in the borough by 2029. However, Labour lost control of the authority in May and it is now led by a Conservative minority, who fell one seat short of the 30 needed to secure a majority.
Resident Concerns
Tenants and leaseholders had raised concerns the proposals would put the already crowded estate, congested local roads and overstretched services under too much strain, across 134 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 have seen part of Arabella Drive closed to vehicles and traffic rerouted along Ludovick Walk. Although controlled parking would have been introduced for existing residents, they felt the estate’s limited parking spaces would still be put under more pressure.
Green Space and Community Impact
While the council had 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. The planning application remained undecided as the borough headed into the local elections, with the Conservatives having stated they would cancel the scheme if they won.
Housing Need Context
People living on the estate who are overcrowded or looking to downsize, or those in priority need on the housing waiting list, would have been prioritised for the new homes. Planning documents said there was an urgent need for the new homes, with more than 11,000 households on Wandsworth’s housing waiting list as of March 2025 – including 3,771 homeless households. The documents said the scheme would have played “a vital role in addressing this housing crisis while delivering long-term community benefits”. They 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.”
