New residents and councillors were among the people who gathered for an event to celebrate a new block of council flats in Borough reaching its highest point last week.
Joseph Lancaster will provide 40 new council homes. Some 34 will be flats in the new block, while another six will be terraced houses next door. Building work is set to finish early next year. The development, led by housing association Leathermarket, will also include communal gardens and play spaces.
Cllr Stephanie Cryan, who is Southwark Council’s cabinet member for council homes and homelessness was at the ‘topping out’ ceremony, alongside Cllr Helen Dennis, who represents the Chaucer ward.
Councillor Cryan said: “I was delighted to visit the Joseph Lancaster site and to see how well this building is progressing. This new development will create 40 new homes for social rent and a communal garden for the residents here, providing much-needed new homes that I know our residents will be excited and proud to move into.
New residents have been given the opportunity to choose interior finishes like flooring and tile colours before moving in.
Katie Farrant, resident director of Leathermarket CBS: “It’s so good to see these council homes going up for local residents that need them. I lived on the Lawson Estate from the age of ten, and seeing so many new council homes going up here in central London brings a lot of hope for local council tenants who want to stay in the neighbourhood that feels like home for them. It’s great that the council is supporting community-led social housing in our local area.”