Westbury, Lambeth

The Westbury Estate is a small, friendly estate in Lambeth. The Council is proposing to regenerate the area by demolishing the low rise properties on the estate. The Council states that the regeneration is being driven by the housing crisis. The Council says that there are simply not enough homes to cope with demand. The two twenty storey tower blocks, (which are landmarks in the local area), will remain. Many residents are very concerned about the plans. Regeneration is always controversial as it creates uncertainty for residents and the potential changes can cause a great deal of stress. There are also worries that regeneration can sometimes bring about gentrification and that local people will no longer be able to afford to live in their neighbourhood. When working with residents NewmanFrancis is open and honest about the potential problems and risks around regeneration but also tries to show the benefits that regeneration can bring.

NewmanFrancis is working on Westbury to make sure that residents are well informed about the regeneration proposals and understand their rights. NewmanFrancis is also supporting a group of residents to represent the community as a whole, (and all the different opinions about the regeneration), so that local people are involved and engaged and able to work in partnership with Lambeth Council to make sure that the regeneration, when it happens, is successful.