Southwark Council welcomes residents to new council homes in Camberwell
2 November 2022
Southwark Council and Guildmore Ltd held an event to welcome residents to the two new council blocks at Goschen Estate in Camberwell on Thursday 29 September 2022.
Southwark Council built two new blocks on Goschen Estate to provide 17 new council homes for local people, as part of its commitment to tackling the housing crisis locally. The council met its target of starting construction on 2,500 new council homes by May 2022, and has plans to start 1,000 more by 2026.
Akinkunmi Raji, a resident who moved into Prout House in August 2022, said “I’m really pleased with my new home, we had been on the waiting list for a long time and it’s fantastic to be in such a nice place with my family. Our new flat is spacious, meets our needs, and I feel safe and comfortable in the area. This new home has brought stability, security and happiness for my family.”
The welcome event, sponsored by building contractors Guildmore Ltd, provided food and drink for all Goschen Estate residents in the communal garden. A new playground and garden with seating was created on the estate as part of the new development.
Cllr Kieron Williams, the Leader of Southwark Council, said “It’s fantastic to meet residents who have moved into these new homes and are embarking on the next exciting chapter in their lives. I’m proud to see families settling in and going from strength to strength now that they have the stable foundation that they need.”
In line with Southwark Council’s local lettings policy, at least fifty per cent of the new homes were offered to local council tenants in housing need already living in the immediate area. The remaining homes were offered to others on the council’s wider housing waiting list.
Cllr Darren Merrill, Southwark’s Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Homelessness, said “I’m really pleased to see residents moving into these flats which have been transformed from empty properties into real homes with tangible benefits for the community. I know that all residents on the estate are also benefiting from the new playground and garden so it’s a great chance for everyone to celebrate together in this setting.”
Southwark Council is working on a range of new council homes sites across the borough. The council works closely with residents in the area when building new homes to ensure that they enhance the surroundings and bring benefits for local people.
Page last updated: 02 November 2022
