Southwark ordered to disclose details about Heygate viability

A first-tier tribunal ruled the borough must publish some information surrounding its deal with developer Lend Lease to demolish and rebuild the Heygate estate.

The developer was allowed to slash the number of affordable homes to 25 per cent after arguing it would not be viable to meet the council’s usual target of 35 per cent.

Southwark Council refused freedom of information requests by campaigners to release the viability assessment, and appealed an information commissioner’s order that it be released last September.

But on Friday, a judge ruled the borough must release the information except the development model, which includes detailed financial calculations and projected sales and rental figures to businesses.

The rest of the information should be disclosed, the judge said. Southwark had argued full disclosure would stop private developers working with councils.  

A council spokesperson said: ‘We are broadly pleased with today’s decision. Without some commercially sensitive information remaining private, developers could simply refuse to work with councils, leaving boroughs without the housing and regeneration we all need.

‘That doesn’t benefit anyone, and we are pleased that the tribunal has recognised this. In terms of the information required to be disclosed, we are looking at the practical implications of this before deciding on our next steps.’

The regeneration of the estate is expected to create 2,469 new homes on the site and in the surrounding Elephant and Castle area.

The final stage of the demolition began in February and the regeneration is due to be completed by 2025.