Demolition work has begun at a dilapidated 1950s housing estate as part of a £60m project.

Properties are being torn down on Cambridge Crescent in Shepway near Maidstone.

Golding Homes has entered into a contract with construction company Skillcrown for phase one of three of the project.

Over the next four to six weeks 38 homes will be torn down and 119 are set to be built in their place.

These will be made up of 91 one and two-bedroom flats and 28 two and three-bedroom houses.

Tom Casey, executive director of development and strategic asset management, is overseeing the demolition.

He said: “We are essentially using a large JCB with a ‘muncher’ on the end which is breaking the building down.

“There's a worker with a hose dampening down the area to minimise dust.

“We are also taking any materials that can be used.

“This includes removing the old mortar to get the bricks back to their shape. They'll be stored and sold on.”

The 45-year-old added: “We are crunching down the concrete, which will be used to provide the base for new roads and pathways.

“It's efficient, sustainable and reduces the carbon footprint of the development going forward.”

In May 2021, the housing association revealed plans to revamp the estate and was given the green light more than 18 months later.

114 existing apartments and shops are set to be removed and replaced with 236 energy-efficient homes.

A modern shopping area, improved landscaping and community facilities will also be added.

Tom, who has worked at the company for five years, says the regeneration is costing an excess of £60 million.

“At the moment it's just apartments or bedsits,” he explained. “It's quite unusual.

“The homes are spread out but they're low density.

“There's lots of open space, but it is not particularly well utilised.

“I think we could spend an awful lot of money improving the current homes, but some of the restrictions that are there would remain the same.”

Last winter, residents were moved out of their homes and utilities were disconnected.

Regeneration coordinator, Lucy Older, has helped rehouse people during this period.

Currently, the estate has a mix of social tenants and leaseholders.

She said: “For social tenants we get them to apply to Kent Homechoice. They don’t have to stay in Maidstone if they don’t want to.

“We also have an agreement with the council where I'm able to offer them a direct let process.

“So I am able to look at our housing stock and offer it to the tenants.”

Those who want to move back to the estate and into the newly built properties may be able to do so in the future, but it all depends on timing.

The area of Cambridge Crescent was once home to a manor house known as Shepway Court.

Construction of the suburb started in the 1930s with South Park Road, but the majority of homes were built after the Second World War as part of a government drive to offset housing shortages.

The 26-year-old says some people have lived in the area for more than 20 years and many are “really excited” for the redevelopment.

“I think unfortunately over time it has been a bit of a target for antisocial behaviour,” she explained.

“They are looking forward for that to be removed from the area.

“The current homes aren’t very good quality.

“By doing this project, we can bring back that community feel and make it a nice space for people to want to come to.”

Homes England, the government’s housing agency, is providing grant funding for the first phase of the project, which is expected to be completed by early 2026.