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Prefab city estate may be listed | Prefab city estate may be listed |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A south-east London estate of post-World War II prefabricated houses could get a Grade II listing. | A south-east London estate of post-World War II prefabricated houses could get a Grade II listing. |
Excalibur estate in Catford has 185 prefabricated houses built in 1946 and is one of the largest communities of its kind in the UK. | |
The Department for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) said the estate had a "compelling" case for being listed. | The Department for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) said the estate had a "compelling" case for being listed. |
Lewisham Council wants to redevelop the site and said refurbishing the houses for modern amenities is "unaffordable". | Lewisham Council wants to redevelop the site and said refurbishing the houses for modern amenities is "unaffordable". |
DCMS said they are looking into listing the estate after English Heritage visited the site. | DCMS said they are looking into listing the estate after English Heritage visited the site. |
A DCMS spokesman said: "The case for listing is compelling and the minister will be making her decision shortly." | A DCMS spokesman said: "The case for listing is compelling and the minister will be making her decision shortly." |
The estate still has 185 prefabricated houses | The estate still has 185 prefabricated houses |
The easily-assembled timber panel houses, which were built in the post-war period to overcome a housing shortage, were designed to last for 10 years. | The easily-assembled timber panel houses, which were built in the post-war period to overcome a housing shortage, were designed to last for 10 years. |
But more than 60 years on, the houses are still firmly in place. | But more than 60 years on, the houses are still firmly in place. |
Lewisham Council, which owns 80% of the prefab houses, said it needs to meet Decent Homes Standard and will not be able to modernise the current properties. | Lewisham Council, which owns 80% of the prefab houses, said it needs to meet Decent Homes Standard and will not be able to modernise the current properties. |
A spokesperson for the council said: "The Excalibur Estate is an area where reconciling the Decent Homes programme with tenants' desires has been a great challenge. | A spokesperson for the council said: "The Excalibur Estate is an area where reconciling the Decent Homes programme with tenants' desires has been a great challenge. |
"These buildings were originally constructed for a temporary life - 10 years or so - and have been standing for over 60. | "These buildings were originally constructed for a temporary life - 10 years or so - and have been standing for over 60. |
"The estate is one of the few areas where refurbishment is unaffordable and achieving modern standards of decent homes is only possible through replacing existing homes with a new build programme." | "The estate is one of the few areas where refurbishment is unaffordable and achieving modern standards of decent homes is only possible through replacing existing homes with a new build programme." |
The council said it is awaiting the outcome of the listing status decision by the DCMS before it consults residents on plans to demolish the estate. | The council said it is awaiting the outcome of the listing status decision by the DCMS before it consults residents on plans to demolish the estate. |
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