Aylesbury Estate

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Aylesbury Estate
Aylesbury Estate viewed from Chiltern
General information
Location	Walworth, Southwark, London, England
Coordinates	51°29′10″N 0°05′06″W / 51.486°N 0.085°W / 51.486; -0.085
Status	Ongoing Regeneration
Construction
Constructed	1963–1977
Demolished	2009 onwards
Other information
Governing body	Southwark Council

The Aylesbury Estate is a large housing estate located in Walworth, South East London.

The Aylesbury Estate contains 2,704 dwellings, spread over a number of different blocks and buildings, and was built between 1963 and 1977. There are approximately 7,500 residents. The estate is currently undergoing a major regeneration programme.

Major problems with the physical buildings on the estate and the poor perception of estates in Britain as a whole have led to the Aylesbury Estate gaining the title of "one of the most notorious estates in the United Kingdom".^[1] It has often been called the largest public housing estate in Europe, although this is difficult to verify with any accuracy.

In 1997, Tony Blair chose to make his first speech as Prime Minister here, in an effort to demonstrate that the government would care for the poorest within society.^[2][3] The estate is often used as a typical example of urban decay.

The Aylesbury Estate is an ethnically diverse area: according to the most recent census, around 25% of respondents were White British, with Black ethnic groups accounting for over half of all respondents. Around a third (34%) of residents are of school age, and fewer than 1 in 10 are aged 65 or above. Nearly two-thirds of respondents identified themselves as being Christian, with 17% being Muslim.