Southwark Council, alongside residents of Ledbury Estate and Higgins Partnerships, has commenced the first construction phase of the Ledbury Estate redevelopment in Peckham, UK.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the project was held earlier this week.

Last August, Higgins Partnerships secured the contract for the £176m ($222.31m) two-phase regeneration of Ledbury Estate. 

Construction is now underway at the former Bromyard House site, where 80 new homes will be built. 

This first stage will deliver two blocks comprising 45 council homes, 15 shared ownership homes, and 20 homes for private sale.  

Southwark Council and its community have been collaboratively planning for several years for this project. 

The need for redevelopment arose after the discovery of structural and fire safety issues in four 1960s-era towers on the estate. 

Following thorough consultations, residents of Ledbury Estate supported the demolition of the four blocks and the creation of new homes along with additional estate improvements.  

Southwark Council New Homes and Sustainable Development cabinet member and councillor Helen Dennis said: “I’m so thrilled to see works get underway on this estate - it’s a really exciting marker in the long journey we have been on with residents to replace the previous homes in the towers with the fire-safe, high-quality new homes our residents deserve. 

“Today we can celebrate being one step closer to Ledbury residents moving back onto the estate they know and love and bringing this wonderfully tight-knit community back together.” 

The new council homes will be allocated to former residents displaced by the aforementioned safety concerns while the shared ownership homes are reserved for leaseholders from the Ledbury towers. 

Completion of the first construction stage is expected in early 2026, with the entire Ledbury Estate redevelopment expected to conclude by 2030.