'Segregation' wall at London housing development taken down Published duration 29 March 2019

image caption Construction workers were dismantling the wall on the estate on Friday

A wall "segregating" children from adjoining private and social housing is being taken down.

It has now confirmed it was "opening up the access between the two sites" following a "positive" meeting.

Residents have welcomed the move.

Jane Bloomfield, 43, a private owner on the Baylis Old School estate, said she was "pleased to see such quick action".

She told BBC News: "I really hope this signals a much more collaborative way of working between all groups to help serve the residents, and children in particular."

image caption Residents welcomed the move to open up access of previously restricted play areas

However, she added there was a small minority of "aggressive" private owners who were not happy about the news.

"We always knew this would be a really emotive issue and that some people would not like this approach and decision, but it was never going to happen otherwise," she said.

"I can only hope with time that everyone realises that this is a good thing."

image caption Residents say there are far fewer children in the private part of the development, where there was access to a much larger play area

image caption Until today, only private owners' children were permitted into large play areas at Baylis Old School

image caption The children of social housing tenants on the other part of the development were only permitted on a smaller play area

Henley Homes said the decision to dismantle the wall followed a "positive meeting" on Thursday evening with the Guinness Partnership which manages the Wren Mews - the social housing side of the development - and Warwick Estates which manages the Baylis Old School estate of private owners and shared ownership residents.

It said it agreed a "fair and proportionate service charge contribution" from the Guinness Partnership which would "allow the residents of Wren Mews to use the play areas and external communal amenities of the wider estate".

image caption One resident said the segregation between Wren Mews and Baylis Old School children "made her cry"

The Guinness Partnership said it would bear the extra costs.

A spokesperson for company said: 'We are pleased our customers now have access to the play areas at Baylis Old School. Thank you to everyone for their support in making this happen."

Warwick Estates has been approached for comment.

Lambeth Council, which voted through the development in 2013 but said it did not approve any plans for segregated access, said it welcomed the move.

"We will be monitoring and holding them to account and continue to challenge requests to segregate communal areas on new developments using our legal powers, including enforcement action where necessary," a spokesman added.

Communities secretary James Brokenshire who previously condemned the restrictions "in the strongest terms" said he was "pleased common sense [had] prevailed".

He added: "Segregation has no place in today's society and should be rooted out, from the playground all the way to the heights of power."