Packington Estate

“A council estate in Islington”, a name that evokes images of urban landscapes, holds a story that transcends concrete and steel. Welcome to the Packington Estate, a place that has seen its share of transformations, its story woven through the lives of those that called it home. It wasn’t always the concrete jungle we see today. Before the 1960s, it was a charming Victorian estate comprised of 200 terraced houses. But the times were changing, and the houses were overcrowded. The Islington Council had a vision: replace the old estate to create a modern one. The council bought the 10-acre property in 1963 and demolished the Victorian houses, building a council estate of flats in their place. The new estate, completed in 1966, consisted of 538 flats in 27 six-storey blocks. The construction material of choice? Concrete panels. While this was a new and innovative approach, it also came with a few drawbacks: the buildings were structurally unsound and a fire risk. The new council estate was meant to be a solution, a modern answer to a housing crisis. However, it ended up being a source of its own set of problems, like a breeding ground for gangs and drug dealers. The Packington Estate became a symbol of the challenges of urban renewal. By the early 2000s, it was clear that the Packington Estate needed another transformation. The decision was made: demolish the old estate and build a new one. But this time, the people who lived there had a say. The tenants had a wish list that included the desire for more family-sized homes. The new Packington Estate opened its doors in 2013, a testament to the community who fought for a new beginning. It’s a testament to resilience in the face of adversity, a story of transformation right in the heart of London.