University of Leicester: "Aylesbury decision could set precedent for stopping gentrification of council estates, says expert"

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"A University of Leicester geographer, who is an international expert on gentrification, has been working with local campaigners in London to overturn plans for the demolition and 'regeneration' of the Aylesbury Estate, one of Europe's largest public housing estates.

"Last week, it was confirmed that the campaigners were successful in blocking the plans proposed by Southwark Council.

"During the campaign, Professor Loretta Lees presented her evidence on gentrification and social cleansing to the Public Inquiry into the plans to issue residents of the Aylesbury Estate with Compulsory Purchase Orders for their homes. Last week, the Secretary of State announced the decision not to confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order.

"Professor Lees said that taking part in the Public Inquiry was an intense experience:

"We were in security lock-down in a room at Millwall Football Club and it was a David and Goliath scenario – the residents were facing a well-funded team from Southwark Council who had hired one of the UK’s top lawyers."