| Heygate Estate | |
|
Heygate Estate in June 2009 |
|
| Location | Walworth, Southwark, London, England |
| Status | Under Demolition |
| Constructed | 1974 |
| Demolished | 2011-present |
| Governing Body |
Southwark Council |
The Heygate Estate is a large housing estate located in Walworth, Southwark, south London. The estate is currently under demolition.[1]
Heygate is one of the most high-profile estates in the United Kingdom, due to its notoriety and usage as a filming location. The estate is situated adjacent to Walworth Road and New Kent Road, and immediately east of the Elephant and Castle road intersection.
Contents |
The concept behind the construction of the estate was of a modern living environment. The neo-brutalist architectural aesthetic was one of tall, concrete blocks dwarfing smaller blocks, surrounding central communal gardens. The architect's concept was to link all areas of the estate via concrete bridges, so there was no need for residents to walk on pavements or along roads. In fact, it was even planned to build bridges to the neighbouring Aylesbury Estate, further south in Walworth.[2]
Designed by Tim Tinker,[3] the estate was completed in 1974.[2]
The estate was once a popular place to live, the flats being thought light and spacious,[4] but the estate later developed a reputation for crime, poverty and dilapidation.[5] Residents complained about constant noise, crime and threats of violence. The sheer scale of many of the blocks also meant there was little sense of community.[6]
The Elephant and Castle regeneration is a £1.5billion scheme to redevelop the area around the Elephant and Castle road junction. The first phase includes the complete demolition of the Heygate Estate, to be replaced with 2,500 new homes.[7]
In February 2004, the masterplan for regenerating the Elephant and Castle, including the demolition of the Heygate Estate, was adopted by Southwark Council.[8]
In July 2007, a consortium of Lend Lease, First Base and Oakmayne were chosen as developers for the Elephant and Castle regeneration scheme.[9]
In July 2010, final planning approval for the Elephant and Castle regeneration was granted by Southwark Council.[10]
In April 2011, demolition started on the Heygate Estate.[1]
The remainder of the estate is not due to be demolished until 2015. The reason for such a lengthy process is due to large amounts of asbestos within the estate's construction.[11]
Due to its urban decay and location, the estate has been extensively used as a filming location. Films have included Attack the Block, Shank[12] and Harry Brown[13] and The Bill TV series.[4] High profile music videos, including "Love Don't Let Me Go" by David Guetta have also been filmed on the estate. In total, 76 films have been made on the estate over three years to 2010, earning Southwark Council £91,000 in royalties.[14]