Mayor Boris Johnson has backed plans for one of the biggest ever housing estate renewal scheme in London.

The regeneration project will see a complete overhaul of the housing estate in Hackney with more than 3,000 new homes built.

The Woodberry Down Estate dates back to the 1940s and has been in need of improvement for many years.

The first phase of regeneration started in 2005 when developer Berkeley Homes built 862 new homes, with a further 180 homes currently being built.

The green light has now been given to a further seven phases of the ‘Woodberry Down Masterplan’ which will see the remaining blocks demolished and replaced with an additional 3,242 new homes.

2,214 of these properties will be ‘affordable’ with the remainder available on the open market.  

“This is one of the biggest estate renewal schemes in the capital and will provide a boost to Hackney by delivering much needed new homes and infrastructure,” said Stewart Murray, assistant director of planning at the Mayor of London's Office.

Other facilities created as part of the project include three new public parks, a community centre and library, an extended primary school, as well as improvements to the transport infrastructure and increased commercial space.