Heygate, London versus HDB, Singapore

The Heygate Story - BBC London.

What is Heygate?
Heygate is a large housing estate located in Southwark, near Elephant and Castle Tube station, in Zone 1 bordering Zone 2.  Completed in 1974, it was home to more than 3,000 people.  This plot is where the new Elephant Park development would be built.

Pictures of Heygate in 1975
This was in 1975.  This estate was a huge achievement for council housing.  Look at the three pictures below.  Remember, this is 1975.  It looked really good! (for that time)

What Happened?
De-generation.  Decay.  Neglect.  Lack of funds to maintain.  Crime, drugs, poverty, dilapidation. The long and dismal list goes on.

Now, watch this video of the estate in April 2013.  Look at what the estate had become.  Isn't it rather sad?


Video by BBC London
A 7 minute video by BBC London, I think worth watching for anybody interested in public housing, housing for the working class and what happens when such housing programs fail.



Timeline of events
2004 - Southwark Council gives Planning Permission for new project which required Heygate to be demolished.  Existing council tenants promised 1,000 new homes on 16 sites around Elephant & Castle. They would be living in their new properties by the end of 2009.

2009 - Not one of the 16 sites had been built.  Only 6 have Planning Permission.

Heygate tenants scream and shout, but to no avail.  Who is going to help them?  The UK Government?
Apparently that is not going to happen.  The Local Council had to serve eviction notices on the tenants who refused to leave.

The BBC interview Helen (68) who had been living in Heygate for the past 35 years.  With no new housing, she has to move to another council house, which was likely pre-war.  "They just want to get rid of working class people, and most of the neighbours feel like that as well."

"I don't feel they are a fair exchange for what I have got."

"Why should it be forced on me? That ain't fair, that ain't democratic isn't it?"  Ernie starts crying.

Watch the video at  6:00min - the pride when the residents first moved into Heygate.
"The next step is eviction for me." - 7:12
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Reflections of a Singaporean 
Reading the history of Heygate Estate and watching the various videos have made me realise that we should never take progress for granted.  Read my other blog post on UK Home-ownership divide.

Singapore has had public housing flats since shortly after independence. Many HDB flats were build in the 1970s.  My parents got their flat in the 1970s and they are still living there. Is there any good reason why our HDB flats and estates have not become like Heygate today?

Unlike the Heygate demolition and forceful eviction of the council tenants, in Singapore we have HDB upgrading, we have SERS (Selective En-bloc Renewal) and all the upgrades that come with a prosperous nation.  Yet, many Singaporean people are still very unhappy.

As the old chinese saying goes, 身在福中不知福.  Just go ask Ernie from the BBC video.

Here is a video of public housing in a typical HDB estate, as well as new skyscrapers coming up to cater for more people.

Some Articles
Death of a housing ideal - Guardian 2011