Its design was inspired by the social reformers who advocated, and showed the benefit of providing houses with gardens for those who can only afford to rent.

It was a reaction to the failure of council estates of multi-storey apartment blocks to provide a good family homes.

Westman and Hollamby's innovative design showed how it was possible using low rise dwellings, to achieve the same residential density as estate of multi-storey apartment blocks; and how pedestrianizing the estate allowed much better use of the space between the dwellings, as this space could be used for gardens rather than car parks and access roads.

In inner London, in the 1950s and 1960s, estates with multi-storey apartment blocks provided the dominant architectural model for council housing.

As Borough Architect, Ted Hollamby had designed different types of council dwellings, tower blocks, tenements, houses.

[3] His design for Cressingham Gardens was informed by failure of multi-storey tower blocks to provide good family homes.

The committee recognized the exceptional importance of the innovative design and minuted 'congratulations to Cressingham's architects on their ‘bold and imaginative scheme'.

To complete the estate, the new housing committee, on the advice of Ken Livingstone, who was deputy chairman, authorized the use direct labour.

Lambeth Council give design failings, and the expense of bringing the estate up to modern standards, as the justification for its planned demolition.

[10] The council-appointed consulting structural engineers identified the following problems:[11] Although the estate has not always been properly maintained, it has enabled a high quality of life for its residents.

The probable cause of the community spirit is that the pedestrianized avenues of the estate provide an area for friendly, neighbourly social interactions.

Creating the vacant building plot required, will entail, demolishing all the dwellings, bulldozing the gardens and felling the trees on the site.

It has direct access to Brockwell Park and good transport links with Gatwick Airport and St Pancras International.

[19] Those renting from the council fear that tenants who lose their homes in redevelopment projects will be relocated out of the borough, and building the new dwellings to allow them to return, will be delayed indefinitely.

[20] The overwhelming majority of residents on the estate fear that they will lose the friendly and helpful neighbours and the benefit of living in mutually supportive community.

[21] On 17 July 2015 the high court ruled that Eva Bokrosova's request for judicial review of Lambeth Council decision to only consider options for demolishing Cressingham Gardens.

Their view was that a strong case could, and should be made for giving Cressingham Gardens listed status, and backing obtained for the application from those with influence.