A controversial plan to force people out of their housing estate to make way for a rebuild that would leave more private and less social housing has been dealt a blow after the government decided it would breach residents’ human rights. A south London council request for permission to issue people on the Aylesbury estate with compulsory purchase orders “adopted extremely low valuations”, the government said. Facebook Twitter Pinterest The plans to demolish and then rebuild the estate would leave about 30% fewer social rented homes, the government documents reveal. The council’s proposal has faced bitter opposition from residents and anti-gentrification campaigners, who have said the current social housing should be upgraded instead. Eileen Short of Defend Council Housing, said: “Whether it’s motivated by cynical financial interests, competing interests of other landlords, or fear of the political consequences of attacks on tenants and housing, the government’s decision to block compulsory purchase on Aylesbury is good for council housing.

Source: The Guardian September 16, 2016 22:30 UTC