A COUNCIL has won the right to buy homes on a sink estate without the owners’ consent.

Greenwich Council says negotiations will continue with people whose homes and businesses it needs to buy in order to complete the mammoth £1bn Ferrier Estate regeneration project.

So far, it has bought 129 of the Kidbrooke estate’s homes and needs to acquire a further 45.

Following a public inquiry in January, permission has been granted by the Government Office for London for Compulsory Purchase Orders to be issued on the remaining properties if necessary.

The project will see the 1974 estate torn down and replaced with more than 4,000 new homes and businesses.

Nick Russell from the Ferrier Residents Action Group, which has raised problems with the scheme including a lack of affordable housing, said some property owners had been holding out for a better deal.

He said: “Unfortunately the council offer doesn’t make it possible for some people to remain homeowners in the immediate area.

“This decision means the council can force their way through now.”

Council leader Councillor Chris Roberts said: “I fully understand that some homeowners and leaseholders have concerns over selling their homes, and am pleased that we were able to find a negotiated solution in the majority of cases.

“Those affected by the compulsory order have exercised their right to put their case to an independent inspector at a public inquiry, and the outcome has been to support the council’s proposals.”

"The council now looks forward to concluding its negotiations over the remaining property purchases."