It was a purpose-built housing cooperative and like others it was an experiment in building close-knit communities and as a way of helping single people and couples.
The flats were intended for couples but not families and the houses were shared by 4 - 6 people, some having a purpose build disabled unit attached.
Difficulties in running the co-operative as a stand-alone project led to the involvement of Hyde Housing Association, which took over the management of the properties around 1990.
Among the founder members were Graham Simpson, who later became the last chair of the original co-op, Paul Clewlow, treasurer, and Dave O'Brien, all who had lived on the scheme for a number of years.
Subsequently, Thamesmead as a whole has been the favored residential starting point in the UK for most arriving West Africans to the extent that it is now known locally as "Little Lagos".