It is understood that two of the teams in the race to carry out the detailed masterplan are led by Mace and HTA Architects. The make-up of the other two is as yet unknown.
The four consortia, whittled down from 75 applicants, will be interviewed on Saturday. Sources close to the project say a winner will be picked within weeks.
The winning scheme will amend a masterplan submitted by Levitt Bernstein Associates, Pollard Thomas & Edwards Architects and BPTW Architects because the brief has changed since it was completed. The project will involve demolition, new build and refurbishment work.
Gary Seabourne of management consultant PCA, which is co-ordinating the competition, said of the brief change: “Some of the tenants we have been talking to now want to stay on in the estate. This will affect the numbers of properties needed.”
At the moment, the plan is to demolish 2015 homes and rebuild1886. About 729 homes will be refurbished.
The scheme envisaged is largely residential, but recreational facilities will be included and a primary school may be built.
The bid seeks to create a sustainable neighbourhood where residents want to remain
Brief for Masterplan
The project is being run by the South London Family Housing Association, tenants, residents and Southwark council. The development has been backed by £56m from the government, Southwark council, the Housing Corporation and the private sector.
The 24 ha estate, between Old Kent Road and Walworth Road in Southwark, contains 2800 properties, three times the national average for housing density. The masterplan brief sent to applicants accepted that the number of houses on the estate had created an unpleasant environment.
The brief said: “The physical unattractiveness of the estate has been identified as a contributing factor to the economic decline of the area, creating a fear of crime and aiding criminal activity.”
Other problems that must be tackled include poor transport and a lack of facilities and open spaces. The brief says: “The bid seeks to create a sustainable neighbourhood where residents feel safe and want to remain.”
The detailed masterplan will go out for consultation this summer. Tenants will then vote on the plan before construction begins. The regeneration of the estate is due to be completed by 2010.
