Who are we?
Alton Action are a non-partisan group initiated by Alton Estate residents and local activists who has fostered the creation of a People’s Plan by the Community, for the Community of the Alton Estate. We have partnered with a research team from University College London along with the Just Space network to co-produce an alternative People’s Plan, which explores the alternatives to demolition.
Alton Action are not associated with any property developers or property investors – our concerns are the current and future housing, social and environmental needs of the residents of the Alton Estate.
Our aim is to deliver the improvements that residents need; through collaborative workshops and discussions with residents, we made sure that their voices will be heard, and their needs met.
We demand a community-focused investment that meets the housing, social and environmental needs of the people who live on the estate while maintaining its architectural and cultural integrity.
Why did we need
a People’s Plan?
The Alton Estate is viewed, by some, solely as a lucrative site on the outskirts of one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Under its previous administration, Wandsworth Council had embarked on several failed regeneration plans over the last 17 years. Each of these plans had focused on maximising developers’ potential profits. The Tory administration has been “managing the decline” of the area at the expense of the current residents resulting in:
-
buildings have become dilapidated and in urgent need of repair
-
accommodation is poorly maintained with ineffective insulation and inefficient heating, mould and damp
-
residents are living in overcrowded homes
Our Statement on the Regeneration and Renewal Plans
In July, a new Alton Renewal Plan was launched by Wandsworth Council. This replaced the previous Council’s 2014 Regeneration Masterplan for the estate.
We note that the Renewal team has taken on some of the People’s Plan suggestions but we believe there could be an effort to provide more council homes.
We welcome the council’s promise “to gather Roehampton residents’ views and feedback at every stage”.
There will be a residents’ ballot on the longer term Renewal plan at the end of 2025 before it gets submitted as a planning application.
Here is a presentation of the design milestones by HTA architects who have been commissioned by the council.
Click on the graph below the stages where our input is necessary.
Here is more on the Wandsworth Council’s Renewal plan: In the shorter-term Wandsworth Council plans to: Re-design the Alton Activity Centre to cater for children of all ages, and improve the play space on Downshire Field (by Spring 2026) Create a new Roehampton Community Hub on the empty site on the corner of Roehampton Lane and Danebury Avenue. This proposes a new library, youth club and 40 new Council rent homes. (construction to start mid-2026 and to be completed by mid-2028) In the longer-term the Renewal Plan includes a range of proposals, at the heart of which is new housing. The proposal is to demolish the first block on Danebury Avenue (the one with the shops below, opposite the library) and all the existing housing on Harbridge Avenue and Kingsclere Close; a total of 178 homes. It would then build 663 new homes of which 41% would be Council rent, 17% shared ownership and 42% private sale. This would create a net gain of 130 Council homes (140 demolished and 270 new built). In addition, the plan would seek to refurbish Allbrook House and the other Danebury Avenue blocks. Construction would start in 2029 and likely to complete from 2031 onwards. This housing proposal compares to the old 2014 Masterplan which would have demolished 288 homes (including 231 Council homes) in the same area, and built 1,108 new homes; 21% Council, 3% shared ownership and 76% private sale, with a net loss of one Council home. There are also a range of other proposals in the Renewal Plan including: Community Facilities – a new library and better youth and family services, including a new family hub at Portswood Place Shops – improved shop fronts on either side of Danebury Avenue and more shopping options including a bigger supermarket, possibly on the site of the current library Transport – including improved bus services, access to Richmond Park and better routes through the estate Neighbourhood improvements – including better estate management and for open space to be protected and feel safer
