Angell Town is Brixton has come a long way since it was granted estate action funding in the 1990s. Since then, some of the old local authority-owned tower blocks have been knocked down and replaced with new, low-rise houses in a traditional street pattern. The remaining blocks have been radically refurbished, which involved removing bridges and dark stairwells.

After the first phase of works was completed, the London Borough of Lambeth and Angell Town residents agreed to bring in housing associations to provide 190 new homes. Presentation Housing Association was selected along with two others, although it was the lead association on development, finance and resident consultation, and delivered 70 homes in Marston South.

The new homes are large, with big windows to maximise light, solar panels, timber panelling and balconies. Its commitment to good design has been widely recognised. In 2002, it won the RIBA Award for Architecture and Best Public Housing Project, and in 2000 it won the Housing Design Award 2000.

Residents have been involved in the work to transform the estate. They wanted to make sure that regeneration was not limited to physical redevelopment but included social, economic and community projects to improve the area’s long-term sustainability. Residents fitted their own kitchens, did the tiling and decorating. Some were given training in building skills and others did work placements with the design teams.