Members of the community came together with Notting Hill Genesis, Southwark Council and The Hill Group to celebrate of the latest phase of the Aylesbury regeneration and reveal the hoarding artwork they helped design.
Representatives from Hill, Southwark Council and Notting Hill Genesis were at the site known as First Development Site C and all said a few words before breaking ground with a golden spade.
The highlight of the event was a presentation of awards to some of the local residents whose designs make up the hoarding around the site. Through the theme ‘past, present and future of the Aylesbury’ the artwork shows what the neighbourhood means to those who call it home.
Notting Hill Genesis have been working in partnership with Southwark Council since 2014 on the regeneration of the Aylesbury estate. It has already seen residents moving into what was formerly called plot 18, which includes a block for the over 55s community living on the estate and a range of new community facilities. The council has also moved residents into new council homes on the First Development Site A.
John Hughes, group director of development and deputy chief executive at Notting Hill Genesis, said: “Today we are marking another significant milestone for the community of the Aylesbury Estate. Notting Hill Genesis will be providing more, much needed social housing and high-quality homes for the residents. I am very pleased to see that construction has already started and we are making good progress. We can all look forward to the continued success of the vibrant community that is the Aylesbury estate.”
Andy Fancy, managing director at The Hill Group said: “The ground-breaking ceremony for this transformative project at the Aylesbury estate is a true testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable homes with our partner Notting Hill Genesis. This is an extraordinary project that spans years of work, and it is not just about building homes; it’s about building a brighter future for all who will call it their home. We are thrilled to be marking the start of this next phase, which will bring countless benefits to the neighbourhood for generations to come, and it is wonderful to unveil the artwork on the hoarding, which is a great collaboration from the talented local community.”
Councillor Helen Dennis, Southwark’s cabinet member for new homes and sustainable development, said: “I’m pleased to celebrate the start of the next phase of the Aylesbury Estate redevelopment which will provide hundreds of new homes and support the community here to thrive. Across the First Development Site we are delivering 581 new council homes, and additional social rent, shared ownership homes and community facilities in partnership with Notting Hill Genesis. The hoarding artwork is a wonderful way to celebrate the community here and to create a shared vision of the past and future of the estate.”
Tom Copley, deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said: “Building more of the council and genuinely affordable homes that Londoners need is a top priority for the Mayor. I’m proud that under Sadiq’s mayoralty, City Hall has successfully broken records for affordable housing delivery, including more council homebuilding than at any time since the 1970s."
