Tenants and opposition councillors in Southwark have branded the council "arrogant" for not giving tenants a chance to vote on the controversial £1bn Elephant & Castle regeneration plan.
The Liberal Democrat-led council has decided not to ballot tenants on the plan to demolish more than 1200 homes on the Heygate estate in south London. A mixed-use development is planned in their place.

The council said 80% of residents backed the plans during a consultation last year and a further ballot was unnecessary. It is not legally obliged to hold a vote.

But opposition councillors and some residents argue that the plans should be voted on. Paul Bates, the council's Labour spokesman on regeneration, said: "Everyone else gets a chance when they're being transferred over to housing associations. We think it's a democratic principle." Doreen Gee, chair of the Heygate Tenants and Residents Association, said: "We've been asking for a ballot for nine years. Tenants need the opportunity to make a decision."

Councillor Catherine Bowman, executive member for regeneration, said: "Unfortunately the [Labour] opposition group has positioned itself against the regeneration to try and use the issue as a political football. Residents just want to know when they're getting a new home."

Southwark council's executive committee approved the regeneration masterplan last Thursday.

Source

Housing Today