…  London Square Streatham Hill is a large mixed housing development, completed last year by the London Square developers on the site of a former nightclub and bowling alley. Prices for the sold-out units started at £500,000 for a one-bedroom flat with views over enormous landscaped gardens.

Residents in the social housing part of the block, which is managed by Peabody Housing, contacted Guardian Cities because they were told they couldn’t access the gardens.

“Some of our flats have views over these huge gardens and we have nothing,” said one of the residents. Nowhere for the children here to run or play outside. This is modern apartheid.

“I work, I pay service charge of £220 a month. I’m actually glad I don’t look over the gardens: how would I tell my children that they can’t play there because I don’t have a fat bank balance?”

However, after the Guardian contacted Peabody Housing and the developers, London Square, they issued a joint statement in which they promised to desegregate the space:

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We apologise that this confusion has arisen. This scheme was designed specifically so that all residents can enjoy access to the garden. We will write to the residents individually to explain this and ensure that they all have access.”

Lambeth Council’s Matthew Bennett, cabinet member for planning, investment and new homes, confirmed that the council explicitly secured access for all residents to the communal courtyard when granting planning permission.

“I could not be clearer in my condemnation for any form of segregation. The communal areas of shared housing developments should be just that – communal.”

Peabody said it was “grateful to the Guardian for drawing this issue to our attention”.  …

What possible “confusion” could result from your segregated so-called communal area?!

More segregated playgrounds revealed: ‘We just play in the carpark’ | Cities | The Guardian