Woodberry Down

Image: © Stephen McKay Taken: 25 Sep 2015

The Woodberry Down Estate was built between 1949 and 1962 by the former London County Council on land either side of Seven Sisters Road. It represented a significant shift away from the pre-war 'garden city' cottage approach to local authority housing, recognising that a denser pattern was needed to solve London's housing crisis. At Woodberry Down all accommodation was in apartment blocks, including these on the north side of Woodberry Down itself; they were originally considered to be models of their kind much loved by those who moved here. However, in more recent years the estate became associated with social deprivation and all the problems that implies. The estate is now being redeveloped by a private developer; some of the replacement blocks can be seen further along the street. Although this will incorporate a relatively high proportion of social housing, the scheme is controversial, described as 'state-led gentrification' because flats in the more desirable locations will be sold at prices way beyond the means of most local people.

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