A topping-out ceremony has been held to mark a key milestone at a regeneration project in Lambeth that will create a community of more than 400 new homes.

The event took place on Friday 7 February at Arbour Square, the 441-home development which is a joint venture between social housing provider The Riverside Group and homebuilder Bellway London.

The scheme is on the site of the current Geoffrey Close Estate off Flaxman Road and will provide modern homes to rehouse tenants currently living in the estate’s existing blocks, as well as delivering additional new homes.
A number of residents, local MP Helen Hayes and Councillor Deepak Sardiwal, representatives from The Riverside Group, Bellway London and sub-contractors from the site, visited the top of Block A to mark the completion of the frame of this first block.

image011.jpgThe six-storey building is due to be finished by February 2026, with the first residents expected to move across into the new homes as part of a phased programme from March 2026.

Residents from the estate voted in favour of the regeneration project in a ballot held under rules introduced by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood said: “I was pleased to join the topping out ceremony marking significant progress in the delivery of new social homes in Loughborough Junction. It was great to see the progress and meet local residents and the team responsible for delivering the new homes.”

Robert Marcantoni, Development Director at The Riverside Group, said: “We’re excited to celebrate this major milestone in the redevelopment of Geoffrey Close. Together with Bellway, and in partnership with the GLA, we’re delivering much-needed homes to address the local housing demand and transform the area.

“The first new homes will prioritise the needs of existing tenants, by providing them with high-quality, energy-efficient homes that improve their quality of life. Residents have played a vital role in shaping the future vision for Geoffrey Close, and we are proud to be delivering homes that meet their needs and aspirations.

“As we prepare for the first completions in early 2026, we look forward to continuing this collaborative effort, ensuring this project leaves a lasting legacy for both current and future generations.”

Tom Sherriff, Managing Director of Bellway Thames Gateway, said: “It was great to be able to show our visitors the progress that we have made at Arbour Square. Once everyone was in boots, hard hats and hi-vis jackets, we took them to the top of the first block which afforded them fantastic views across London.

“It was especially pleasing to welcome some of the local residents, who will be moving into these apartments from their homes on the current Geoffrey Close Estate. They were able to see the location of the block where their new homes will be.

“It’s an exciting time as the first block, which will feature 25 affordable homes, reaches an important landmark. This is a forward-thinking project in which we will deliver 244 private homes, 135 properties for social rent and a further 62 affordable homes for London Living Rent or shared ownership.

“The ambitious regeneration scheme includes the demolition of existing buildings at Geoffrey Close, York Close and Canterbury Close and the construction of six new buildings at the site, ranging in height from five to 13 storeys. This much-needed new housing will cater for a wide range of people looking for a new home.”

Work on the new homes will be phased so that residents currently living in one of the Geoffrey Close blocks will be the first to move into Block A of the new development.

After that, residents from the remaining blocks will move into Block B and Block C in two phases. Construction of Block B is due to commence in 2026 following the completion of Block A.

As residents move into their new properties, their old buildings will be demolished to make way for the rest of the scheme.