Council to challenge refusal by minister of CPO for last properties on estate

Southwark Council is to seek a judicial review of the Community Secretary’s decision to reject the compulsory purchase of eight remaining properties on a development site.

In making his decision in relation to the Aylesbury Estate, Sajid Javid concluded that Southwark had not done enough to acquire the land by agreement. The minister also decided that the CPO would breach the human rights of the remaining leaseholders by forcing them to use their savings to buy a new property.

The council claimed that Javid’s findings were based on a former leaseholder policy which it had updated in December 2015 and shared with the Secretary of State. Its new approach was not reflected in Javid’s decision, it argued.

Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: "This decision puts Southwark and all councils who are trying to build new homes for our residents between a rock and hard place. We can either fight this decision or scrap our plans to regenerate the Aylesbury estate, leaving the hopes and dreams of thousands of local people in tatters. I’m not willing to do that, which is why we will take court action if necessary to try to overturn this bizarre decision.

"I honestly don’t know what the Government’s policy is on estate regeneration any more, as they say one thing and do another. By this decision they are jeopardising plans for 800 new homes for Londoners. Of course the human rights of our residents are important, which is why each of the remaining resident leaseholders has been offered a brand new home in the same area, rent-free, and with a shared equity arrangement which protects the money they’ve saved and invested. I’m afraid that we can’t just keep offering them more and more taxpayers’ money.”

Cllr John added: "In his report the Secretary of State recognises that the scheme is viable, that it brings economic and  social benefits to the area and that refurbishment is not an option. Our plans offer the only way forward for the positive regeneration of an area of London that desperately needs it, and I’m determined that we will keep going to provide high-quality, affordable homes for local people. I hope he will listen to reason but failing that, we will take this to court. We will also continue with our regeneration of other parts of the estate that are not affected by this decision."