Riverside and Countryside Partnerships have marked the start of construction on the 275-home Calverley Close estate in Beckenham – which is expected to take 10 years to finish.
The team also celebrated the ‘topping out’ of the first building in the 170-home redevelopment of the Pike Close estate in Bromley.
The events were attended by local councillors, including Councillor Alisa Igoe, Councillor Will Connolly and Councillor Adam Jude Grant, as well as Riverside and Countryside colleagues and current residents of the estates.
Both projects have made considerable stride after planning permission was granted by Bromley Council for the redevelopment of Calverley Close in January 2023 and Pike Close in March 2022.
These new developments were designed to “meet the distinct needs of existing Riverside customers”, who are all guaranteed a home on the rebuilt estates, with protected rent and tenancy terms.
The project aims to tackle overcrowding issues and improve accessibility, while offering modern, more spacious, and energy-efficient housing.
The Calverley Close estate will consist of 275 new homes, featuring 255 apartments within six blocks, six to seven stories high, and 20 three-storey townhouses.
These new homes are to be completed by spring 2034, with 179 allocated for social and affordable rent, while 96 will be for private sale.
The Pike Close estate regeneration will deliver 170 new homes, comprising 92 units for social and affordable rent, and 78 for private sale.
The new properties, made up of 159 apartments, eight three-storey townhouses, and three maisonettes, are expected to be finished by winter 2031.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service previously reported in January 2023 that locals voiced concerns over how long it will take to build the new homes, with council documents saying the construction will last over ten years. One resident called the time frame “ludicrous”.
Mr Shallice said: “To put in place such a time scale, a tenth of a century without accounting for the impact on residents is staggering and cannot be allowed.
“The noise, the pollution, the inconvenience would be astronomical and has not been considered at all.”
One neighbour said: “Beckenham (and Bromley as a whole) is in need of more and better affordable homes and I believe this redevelopment will bring genuinely affordable and quality housing for current Beckenham residents.”
Another resident said they had been a tenant in the estate since 1988, and were looking forward to moving into a brand new flat.
Mike Woolliscroft, London Divisional Chair for Vistry Group, said: “Having worked tirelessly with residents, the council and wider community on the redevelopment plans for Calverley Close and Pike “Close, we are excited to celebrate the significant progress we are making in bringing these visions to life.
“In partnership with Riverside, we are providing every existing tenant with a high-quality, energy-efficient new home as well as delivering additional homes for private sale to meet the considerable need for housing in the area.”
