‘I knew everyone here’: the tower block with 164 boarded-up homes – and a few residents who just won’t leave

TL;DR

Lund Point, a 21-storey tower in east London, now has only four occupied flats out of 168, with the rest boarded up and abandoned. Residents like Tee Fabikun and Warren Lubin still live there, but the building’s future is uncertain amid neglect and failed redevelopment promises.

Only four flats remain occupied in Lund Point, a tower block on the Carpenters estate in east London, as the majority of the 168 flats have been boarded up and left vacant for years. The building’s dilapidated condition has persisted despite ongoing redevelopment efforts, with residents like Tee Fabikun continuing to live there amid concerns over safety and future plans.

Lund Point, built in 1967-68, originally housed over 700 residents across three tower blocks. Over time, maintenance decline and failed regeneration schemes led to most flats being abandoned. Today, only four flats remain occupied, all on the fifth floor, with the rest sealed off with steel security doors. Longtime resident Tee Fabikun, who has lived there since 1997, describes her flat as her home, knowing most of her neighbors then, but now she is among the few left.

Warren Lubin, another long-term resident, lives on the 20th floor and describes the building as dirty and neglected, with missing cladding, broken windows, and vermin issues. Despite the deterioration, Lubin and Fabikun say they still feel safe and have a sense of community, though it is increasingly fragile. The building’s decline is part of a broader pattern of estate neglect and failed redevelopment efforts in the area. Despite the deterioration, Lubin and Fabikun say they still feel safe and have a sense of community, though it is increasingly fragile. The building’s decline is part of a broader pattern of estate neglect and failed redevelopment efforts in the area.

Why It Matters

This situation exemplifies the crisis in London’s social housing, where long-promised regeneration projects have stalled or failed, leaving residents in deteriorating conditions. For more on housing issues, see this related article. It raises questions about housing policy, resident displacement, and the accountability of local authorities. The abandonment of Lund Point is a symbol of wider issues affecting many estates across the capital.

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Background

Lund Point was part of the Carpenters estate, built in the late 1960s as a response to postwar housing shortages. Over decades, maintenance was neglected, and from 2004, council-led regeneration schemes aimed to refurbish or replace the estate. However, these plans faced delays, disputes, and funding issues, leading to the current state where most flats are boarded up. The estate’s decline reflects broader challenges in London’s social housing sector, including underinvestment and resident displacement. Learn more about similar cases in this case study.

“I knew everyone. If you got into the lift with someone you didn’t know, by the time you got out you knew each other.”

— Tee Fabikun

“It’s one of the reasons I’ve liked living here, the afternoon sun, the view facing westwards of London.”

— Warren Lubin

“This is a scandal, an example of everything that’s wrong with estate regeneration.”

— Chris Bailey, Action on Empty Homes

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What Remains Unclear

It is not yet clear whether or when Lund Point will undergo redevelopment or demolition. The future of the building remains uncertain amid ongoing negotiations and funding issues, and the residents who remain are unsure how long they can stay.

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What’s Next

Next steps include potential redevelopment or demolition plans by the local council, with community consultations expected. Authorities may also face pressure from housing advocates to address the neglect and find solutions for remaining residents.

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Key Questions

Why are so many flats in Lund Point boarded up?

The flats are boarded up due to neglect, disrepair, and failed redevelopment plans, making the building unsafe and uninhabitable for most residents.

Are residents like Tee Fabikun likely to be displaced?

It is uncertain. While some residents remain, future redevelopment plans could lead to displacement, but no definitive decisions have been announced yet.

What caused the decline of Lund Point?

Decades of poor maintenance, lack of investment, and stalled regeneration schemes contributed to the building’s deterioration and abandonment.

Is there any official plan for Lund Point’s future?

As of now, no confirmed redevelopment or demolition plans have been publicly announced. Local authorities are still considering options.

Source: Guardian Life

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