LEWISHAM Council plans to spend “tens of millions of pounds” in a massive regeneration of four estates.

The four estates, Heathside Estate and Lethbridge Close, Deptford High Street and Convoys, Milford Towers and North Downham Estate, have been chosen as part of the borough’s commitment to bring all social housing into a decent condition by 2010.

Councillor Gavin Moore, cabinet member for regeneration, says each estate will cost at least £10m.

He said: “The whole project will cost many tens of millions of pounds. The four estates have a very significant need for housing investment but there’s also the opportunity in these areas for much wider regeneration benefits.” The Deptford High Street and Convoys area, which falls within the top 10 per cent of the most deprived wards in the country, would see 373 high-density flats given a revamp.

Deptford Community Forum says it welcomes money being spent on the area.

Chairman Des Malone said: “Nobody should have to live in sub-standard accommodation with no central heating, poor ventilation and poor windows.

“The important thing is to ensure residents are given an early, meaningful consultation. There are plenty of precedents where major decanting has happened such as in Milton Court. The important thing was that people felt they were part and parcel of what happened.” Other proposed sites for regeneration include the North Downham Estate, which also falls within the top 10 per cent of the most deprived wards in the country and could see 680 homes rebuilt.

Milford Towers, in the heart of Catford shopping centre and made up of three and four-storey blocks constructed in the early 1970s, could be completely rebuilt.

Or a £10.6m refurbishment option for the 275 homes would take place to address repair issues such as concrete repairs, re-roofing, asbestos removal and environmental improvements.

The Heathside and Lethbridge Close estates, both located adjacent to Lewisham Road, could see 560 homes refurbished at a cost of about £45,000 for each home.

Alternatively, the council could offer the land, which has one of the highest land values in the borough because of its proximity to Blackheath, to developers on condition they re-providing 400 units of social housing in exchange for free land.

The council will spend £60,000 drawing up feasibility studies into the different options and initial findings will be reported back to the Mayor and cabinet within six months. Residents will then be consulted on the refined proposals.