Shovels were in the earth on the Old Kent Road as the Ledbury Estate’s redevelopment got underway last week.
Residents celebrated the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, February 5.
The Ledbury Estate is being redeveloped after it emerged, in 2017, that blocks hadn’t undergone strengthening works – even after the Ronan Point explosion that killed four people.
In total, the Ledbury Estate redevelopment will provide 340 new homes, 224 of which will be council homes to replace those from the old towers.
The council will also build an additional 36 new council homes, taking the total to 260 council homes, as well as 15 shared ownership homes and 65 homes for private sale.
Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes, said: “I’m so thrilled to see works get underway on this estate – it’s a really exciting marker in the long journey we have been on with residents to replace the previous homes in the towers with the fire safe, high-quality new homes our residents deserve.”
The first phase of construction works is taking place on the site of the former Bromyard House and will provide 80 new homes across two blocks.
Those blocks will include 45 council homes, 15 shared ownership homes and 20 homes for private sale.
Residents forced to move out of their homes for the redevelopment will get priority on the new council homes.
The shared ownership homes will be designated for leaseholders of the Ledbury towers.
The redevelopment was proposed after four towers on the estate, built in the 1960s, were identified as having serious structural and fire safety issues.
Following extensive consultation, Ledbury Estate residents voted in favour of demolishing the four blocks and providing new homes and a range of other improvements to the estate.
The wider neighbourhood will also benefit from landscaping and new outdoor communal areas.
There will be a large, multi-purpose garden courtyard with space for community growing, a play area and tree-lined paths creating new pedestrian and cycle friendly connections between the Old Kent Road, Pencraig Way and Bird in Bush Park to the south-west.
The first phase of building works is expected to complete in spring 2026 and the entire Ledbury Estate redevelopment is expected to be finished by 2030.