Heygate Estate

Well, today was ‘research day’ into the elephant project. And what better way to do research than a good walk around the area? After having cycled around the Elephant & Castle area for a while, I honed in on the Heygate Estate and climbed up all the way to floor 11. I even had a chance to talk to two residents. They have been given two years’ notice to move out. Naturally they are worried about finding accommodation, which is as cheap as the one they are living in at the moment, however run down the estate is. They confirmed that about half of the estate is already empty and that a few crack factories have moved in as a result.

















At one end of the estate is the United Reformed Church (New Kent Road), which I assume will have to move to new premises as well once the estate will be demolished. Well, today was a start to understand the social fabric of the area. I still would like to focus my project on the London Park Hotel, if I can get access.