PEOPLE living on a controversial prefab estate will see their homes demolished after Lewisham Council finally granted planning permission for a redevelopment.

More than 180 homes on the Excalibur estate in Catford will be bulldozed as part of the scheme.

London and Quadrant Housing Association (L&Q) will then replace them with 371 new properties.

People on the estate have for years been divided over whether there should be a regeneration of the prefabs, built by German PoWs in the 1940s.

But a ballot in August last year revealed more than 56 per cent of people supported the move.

News Shopper: Kay Sim, aged 64, is happy with the decision Kay Sim

Kay Sim, who has lived in Mordred Road for 23 years, said: “The prefabs are past their sell by date.

“They have been up for 60 years or more. They have had their time and some of them can be very damp.”

She added: “The plans are fantastic but it’s not for me at this time.

“If I had been younger I would have moved across the estate and come back but I’m 66 and moving twice is not good for me.”

Mrs Sim is waiting for her home to be valued and hopes to move to Downham to live close to her daughter.

Meanwhile, some members of The Worried Tenants Group, which was set up four years ago to fight the demolition, say they'll refuse to move.

News Shopper: Lorraine and Jim Blackmore with grandson Jay Knapp Lorraine and Jim Blackender with grandson Jay Knapp

Jim Blackender, who lives in Pelinore Road, said: “We are a little bit disappointed but what did we expect?

"Lewisham Council was asking itself for planning permission.

“We are also disappointed English Heritage hasn’t intervened at this stage.”

The 58-year-old added: “I’m not going anywhere. I’m not moving and there are many other residents feeling the same way.

“They will have to physically remove me. They can take me to court and bring in the bailiffs and bulldozers.

“It’s not over until the fat lady sings.”

The group successfully campaigned to save six Grade II listed prefabs on the estate, which will remain on the site.

Mr Blackender, who dislikes the L&Q designs, said: “If they put buildings like that here it will look so odd and will ruin an idyllic area with a monster of an estate.”

The planning application was agreed unanimously by Lewisham Council's Planning Committee on April 21 and will now go to the Mayor of London for final approval.

L&Q designs for the Excalibur Estate

News Shopper: Artisit impression of homes on the new Excalibur estate L&Q plans to build 371 new homes on the estate with 228 designated as affordable housing and 143 for private sale.

A number of bungalows and apartments for the over 55s have also been incorporated into the designs.

There will be 296 car parking spaces (50 designated as disabled parking bays) and 371 cycle spaces.

News Shopper: Proposed arial view of the estate Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock said: “L&Q has worked incredibly closely with residents to ensure their views have been taken into account in the designs for the new estate.

“As the majority of residents on the Excalibur estate voted for new homes, with the granting of planning permission this means an important and sustainable regeneration scheme for the area can move another step closer.”

News Shopper: Artist impression of a garden view Work is set to take place in five phases and demolition could begin on the estate towards the end of the year.

The council is currently decanting the first two phases of residents.

Building the first phase is expected to start in 2012 and the entire scheme should be completed by 2018.