Roundshaw

History

Roundshaw was built on the site of the former Croydon Airport which once occupied the buildings of the first Croydon Aerodrome (originally named 'Plough Lane') which was demolished in 1928. The estate is commemorated in various ways; the naming of roads after aircraft, personalities, and firms linked with aviation to recall the airport's history: Mollison Drive, Lindbergh Road, Olley Close, Avro Way, Brabazon Avenue among other related aviation names. The name of the estate comes from Roundshaw Park on the edge of the site, named from a round 'shaw' or grove of trees.

The estate accommodates approximately 1,800 homes. Construction began in 1965 with the first tenants moving in August 1967. The original pre-cast concrete flats and masonettes were heated from a central communal boiler house. This was demolished during the regeneration of the estate, which the newly refurbished homes incorporate their own energy-efficient modern heating systems.

The London Borough of Sutton were the sole proprietors of the Roundshaw housing stock until 2007, when the responsibility was commissioned to Metropolitan and Hyde Housing Group who jointly created Roundshaw Homes. In 2015 the estate was transferred solely to Metropolitan.

Regeneration

During the mid 1980s and throughout the 1990s, major refurbishments on the concrete dwellings were carried out by contracted specialists commissioned by the London Borough of Sutton, as the 1960s construction and build deteriorated. The layout of the estate included underground garages and balcony passageways; this provided the opportunity for anti-social behaviour.

After consultation with residents, building contractors and social housing groups, the London Borough of Sutton addressed the problems of the original estate, resulting in a regeneration programme at a cost of £30m, commenced in 1998.

Over a ten-year period, 1,000 high-rise pre-cast concrete flats and maisonnettes were demolished. The demolition and clearance was commissioned to Gregory Demolition; the first areas regenerated were Roe Way (street level) demolished by grabbers, and Instone Close (high-rise) was imploded in November 2000; this followed a roll-out of the rest of the estate being replaced with a number of low-rise houses and brick-built flats. A further 674 low rise homes were retained and refurbished.

The final phase of the demolition and regeneration was Shaw Way in 2007. The project was completed in 2010.

Local Amenities

St Paul's Church was constructed and opened in 1981, which is used by the Church of England and the Free Churches. St Paul's was rebuilt and extended during the regeneration. Originally, it collaborated in a churchless religious venture known as the 'Roundshaw Experiment'. A cross was set up outside the church which is made from a four-bladed propeller, or airscrew, obtained through the Croydon Airport Society.

The primary school was named after the famous aviator, Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo to Australia, from Croydon Airport in May 1930.

Wilson's School was moved from Camberwell to Roundshaw in 1975.

Roundshaw Fields hosts the Croydon Pirates baseball team, one of the most successful teams in the British Baseball Federation. The fields have 2 of the best baseball diamonds in the U.K. which Croydon often hosts the London Tournament and National Finals.

There are a range of shops and take-away's based in Mollison Square.

The Phoenix Centre is the hub of the local community; in addition to the sporting and recreation activities, the centre has a library and IT Centre, Local Access Point, Youth Centre, Sensory Room and the Beehive Cafe. Charities such as Mencap run sporting sessions and community groups have access to the facilities.

The Phoenix Centre provides the following resources and activities:

Regular Bus Routes From TfL - Phoenix Centre:

(The above written on 26/09/2015)

Popular Culture