Southern Housing has buried a time capsule at a Croydon development, marking both the scheme’s structural completion and the housing association’s 125th anniversary.
The provider is delivering 75 new affordable rent homes at 304 Bensham Lane in Thornton Heath, in partnership with Oakwood Building Contractors.
At an event held at the site earlier this month, chief executive Paul Hackett placed the final piece of roofing felt, marking the structural completion of the building. Pupils from nearby Bensham Manor School then sealed a time capsule – not to be opened until 2076 – into the wall of the bike store.
The capsule contained artwork and decorated pebbles made by pupils, a leaflet advertising this year’s pantomime at Fairfield Halls, a pin badge, a copy of Southern Housing’s 125th anniversary resident magazine and a supermarket receipt.
Attendees included ward councillor Humayun Kabir, pupils and staff from Bensham Manor School, and representatives from Oakwood Building Contractors and employers’ agent Gardner Partnership. Residents are expected to move into the homes in late autumn 2027, when the development is due to complete.
Hackett said: “We’re building homes for the future, but we’re also celebrating Southern Housing’s history and our 125th anniversary with this event. We’re proud to provide more than 80,000 homes in 2026, including over 4,000 in the borough of Croydon, where we continue to have a strong presence.
“Our purpose remains the same as 125 years ago; offering safe, good-quality, affordable housing that supports people’s wellbeing. We’ll continue this legacy and will keep providing homes for people in need, today and long into the future.”
Sam Duckett, director at Oakwood Building Contractors, said: “We’ve really enjoyed working with Southern Housing on this project and are delighted to deliver new homes for the area. It’s fantastic to have the local community involved in a project that will shape Croydon’s skyline for years to come.”
Barrie Murphy, careers lead at Bensham Manor School, said: “It’s been fantastic to bring some of our students to visit the Bensham Lane site. Having the opportunity to be involved with the topping out ceremony, placing the time capsule and trowelling the corner stone, and spotting their own school across the Croydon skyline from the roof have been incredibly special moments for the students and their parents.”
Each home will have either a balcony or a private garden. Other features include exhaust air heat pumps, solar panels and a sustainable urban drainage system, with the development expected to achieve at least a 35% reduction in carbon emissions compared with current building regulations.
Southern Housing also has a neighbouring 44-home scheme at 324 Bensham Lane, due to complete in late spring 2027.
The partnership between Southern Housing and Oakwood Building Contractors has also delivered local employment opportunities, apprenticeships and educational activities with Bensham Manor School, along with £230,000 in social value funding for the charity Fresh Visions. Surplus building materials from the site have been donated to Bensham Manor Allotments for improvement works.
Main image: Paul Hackett, chief executive of Southern Housing, and Steven Harrison of MW Contracts Roofing
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