Key Points
- Camden Council has appointed Higgins Partnerships to deliver the first phase of the West Kentish Town Estate regeneration.
- The first phase will provide 52 new affordable homes across two six-storey blocks.
- The homes will include 48 social-rented homes for returning council residents and four homes for existing leaseholders.
- The wider estate regeneration has been shaped by more than 10 years of engagement with residents and neighbours.
- In 2020, estate residents voted in favour of full regeneration, with 93% backing the plans on a turnout of almost 85%.
- The full masterplan is expected to deliver more than 850 new homes, including 320 council homes.
- The scheme also includes new outdoor play areas, open spaces, improved connectivity and a better public realm.
- The development is part of Camden’s Community Investment Programme and is intended to create larger, energy-efficient homes.
Camden Council (North London News) June 23, 2026, has appointed Higgins Partnerships to begin the first phase of the regeneration of the West Kentish Town Estate, with the project set to deliver 52 affordable homes and form the starting point for a wider redevelopment of the 1960s estate.
What has Camden announced?
West Kentish Town, Camden Council appointed Higgins Partnerships on 23 June 2026 to deliver the first phase of the estate regeneration, according to the council’s announcement. The first phase will comprise two six-storey blocks and is designed to provide new homes for residents linked to the occupied estate.
The redevelopment is being positioned as an early step in a much larger long-term programme for the site.libguides.southernct
As reported by the council, the appointment followed a fully compliant procurement process that included local representation on the interview panel, with two residents living adjacent to the site and the headteacher of Rhyl School involved in the selection process. That approach was presented as a way to reflect community voices during procurement.libguides.southernct
What will phase one deliver?
Phase one will deliver 52 affordable homes, including 48 social-rented homes for returning council residents and four homes for existing leaseholders, Camden said.
The homes will include a mix of one- to four-bedroom properties, including family maisonettes, which the council says is intended to support a range of household sizes.libguides.southernct
The first phase sits at either end of the occupied estate and has been designed to respond to different surroundings.
Block A1 fronts Queen’s Crescent High Street and is close to homes, schools, community facilities, Queen’s Crescent Market and the Baitul Aman Mosque, while Block D1 will sit beside the railway viaduct and require coordination with railway asset owners and operators.libguides.southernct
Why is the estate being regenerated?
The wider regeneration is part of Camden’s Community Investment Programme and is aimed at replacing outdated blocks with safer, modern and energy-efficient homes.
The council says the scheme is intended to meet residents’ demand for larger homes and to improve living conditions for families affected by overcrowding.libguides.southernct
Councillor Nasrine Djemai, cabinet member for new homes and community investment, said the redevelopment would allow Camden to build
“much needed safer and larger homes”
that residents
“have asked for and deserve.”
She added that the full project includes more than 850 new homes, of which 320 will be council homes, along with improvements such as outdoor play areas and open spaces.libguides.southernct
What did Higgins Partnerships say?
Declan Higgins, chief executive for Higgins Group, said the company was pleased to be appointed to deliver the first phase of what he described as an important regeneration programme for West Kentish Town.
He said the firm is committed to delivering the homes “sensitively and collaboratively” and to working with the community on training, employment and social value opportunities.libguides.southernct
His comments place emphasis on the practical and social aims of the project, not just construction. That includes supporting local benefit during the build period and helping establish a foundation for the wider redevelopment.libguides.southernct
How has the project developed so far?
The regeneration of the occupied estate has been shaped by more than 10 years of engagement with residents and neighbours, according to Camden.
In 2020, residents were balloted on the future of the estate and 93% voted in favour of full estate regeneration, with turnout reported at almost 85%.libguides.southernct
The overall masterplan was prepared by Alford Hall Monaghan Morris, while phase one was designed by Mae Architects.
Camden says the first phase is intended to create “early momentum” for the wider plan, which includes new homes, improved open space, better connectivity and enhanced public realm across the estate.libguides.southernct
What does the design aim to achieve?
The council says the new blocks have been designed to reduce energy demand, lower carbon emissions and create more comfortable living environments.
That forms part of the wider aim to provide energy-efficient homes that better suit family needs than the existing stock.libguides.southernct
The project is also expected to bring neighbourhood changes beyond housing alone. Camden has said the scheme will include safer surroundings, new outdoor play areas and open spaces, and broader improvements to the local area as the estate is reshaped.libguides.southernct
Background of the development
West Kentish Town Estate is a 1960s housing estate and has been the subject of long-running discussion about renewal, resident needs and the future of the site.
Camden’s statement shows that the current regeneration is not a sudden proposal but the result of extended consultation, a resident ballot and a wider planning process that has developed over more than a decade.libguides.southernct
The appointment of Higgins Partnerships marks a practical move from planning into delivery for phase one. It also signals the council’s intention to proceed with a scheme that combines housing replacement, estate redesign and community investment over the long term.libguides.southernct
Prediction
For residents on and around the West Kentish Town Estate, the immediate effect is likely to be continued construction activity, phased redevelopment and ongoing engagement as the project moves forward.
The promise of larger family homes, social-rented properties for returning residents and local employment opportunities may make the scheme significant for households seeking longer-term housing stability.libguides.southernct
For the wider North London audience, the development may be viewed as part of Camden’s broader housing strategy, particularly where the pressure for affordable, energy-efficient homes remains high.
If the regeneration progresses as planned, it could become an example of how councils try to balance resident retention, estate renewal and community benefit within occupied housing estates.
