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Council tenants have won their battle with an aristocrat who wanted them off his land.

Duke of Westminster Hugh Grosvenor – worth £10billion – was accused of “social cleansing” over plans to demolish their flats and replace them with luxury housing.

It meant 141 tenants, including eight disabled, being relocated 12 miles away from their neighbourhood in Belgravia, West London.

But after a campaign and 200,000-strong petition backed by the Sunday People, all 40 families will now be offered new social housing on the site where many have lived for 40 years.

Council tenant Luke Hawa, 20, said he was “ecstatic” but warned that more guarantees were needed.

(Image: Phil Harris/Daily Mirror) (Image: Phil Harris/Daily Mirror)

The 28-year-old Duke’s property group, Grosvenor, is to demolish its Walden House block, leased to Westminster Council, by 2023 to build shops and upmarket homes.

Tenants there pay £600 a month for a two-bed council flat and have now been told they will have the right to new social housing.

Labour councillor Andrea Mann said: “It should have been in place from the start.”

Westminster City Council said: “Grosvenor has confirmed any redevelopment will result in an increase of social and affordable homes.”