Council fires independent resident representative in latest estate regeneration blunder

Labour-run Southwark Council’s handling of the long-running Chilton Grove Estate scandal has taken a new turn, after residents were told that their independent representative, Open Communities, has been abruptly removed from the project and replaced with an “in-house” council officer. 

Residents say they were informed during a meeting last week that Open Communities, who have chaired meetings and supported residents throughout the redevelopment, would no longer be involved. The decision has left residents “shocked” and deeply concerned about accountability and transparency. 

The move comes just days after the Council’s leadership was grilled at Scrutiny over its mishandling of the Chilton Grove project, where residents and leaseholders have faced years of disruption, sky-high bills, and broken promises. 

Originally meant to combine rooftop homes with major refurbishment works, the Chilton Grove project collapsed into chaos, with works dragging on for years and some leaseholders told they face bills of up to £100,000 while living on what many describe as a building site. 

An internal review admitted the project had “not gone well”, yet the Council appears to be repeating the same mistakes, undermining independent oversight and cutting residents out of key decisions. 

The scandal is the latest in a string of Major Works blunders, including Canada Estate, Devon Mansions, and the Kirby Estate, which overspent by a combined £6 million yet resulted in an unacceptably poor quality of works. 

Last year, the Regulator of Social Housing highlighted transparency and accountability issues in its report which awarded the Council a “C3” rating, indicating serious failings. 

Cllr Victor Chamberlain, Leader of Southwark Liberal Democrats, said: 

“This decision shows Labour are incapable of cleaning up their own mess, and are continuing to stumble from blunder to blunder.  

It looks like they’re trying to shut residents out just as the next stage of the project comes up for tender, when instead the need to rebuild trust is more important than ever. 

It’s yet another sign that Southwark Labour haven’t learned from the litany of recent housing scandals. Transparency and accountability are essential if residents are ever going to have confidence in this council again.”