Cinzia D'Ambrosi

West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates in West London are set to become the latest victims that sees areas in the capital demolished under programmes of'regeneration'. In the last years, through regeneration many much needed social homes and entire communities have been demolished paving the way to large scale developments. The planned demolition of West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates will see the loss of 761 homes. The community is fighting a legal battle to retain control of their homes.

In London alone, there are over 220,000 households reported as overcrowded. Overcrowding is affecting hundreds of thousands of people. The negative effects that overcrowded housing has on families are numerous. It is associated with respiratory diseases, including asthma, bronchitis and in severe cases TB, as well as mental health with depression and stress. It has an impact on the quality of life where relationships strain.

Dale Farm travelers lose their latest appeal to save Dale Farm, an Irish Traveller halting site on Oak Lane in Crays Hill. The site houses over 1,000 people. It was the site of one of the largest Traveller concentrations in the UK. Basildon District Council conducted a ten year legal challenge to evict the Travellers at the site, citing expansion into the area considered green belt. In 2011 the site became a battleground when the council decided to bring in police officers to remove activists and residents from the site.

Homelessness is a growing problem in the UK exacerbated by a growing poverty and shortage of housing. With nowhere to go, millions are forced to live in temporary accommodations and in overcrowded and inadequate conditions whilst on council housing waiting lists. The project captures these grim realities allowing the viewer into the lives of Britain's hidden homeless: people stuck in hostels, B&B and temporary flats. It represents a dramatic crisis because many are left in temporary, provisional situations for an unacceptable long time, living in limbo for two years or more. This has a lot of physical and psychological repercussions. The impact is great.

Council Estates are a part of London urban landscape. To many outsiders, these areas with high-density housing may appear sinister and to be avoided. Often the creation of estates have generated problems partly for the concentration of various ethnic groups and low income households. Some of these housing complexes have created communities among themselves. Loughborough Estate in South-West London, a complex of high-rise buildings and low flats is one of such areas. It is bearing the hallmarks of inner-city decay: vandalism, drug problems, burglary and violent crimes. Although it had its apex during the 1990's when was highly crime ridden, today most residents still feel a great sense of exclusion and uneasiness. Gun crimes among rival gangs remains a problem. As part of an initiative to shed light on the positive side of the Loughborough Estate and to portray the diverse lives of its residents forming the community, I was commissioned by the National Lottery Awards to produce a year long photo documentary on "Life on the Estate, Today". This project resulted in a booklet of postcards which were sent to all the residents in the area (40.000 households) and project supporters.