The first families are preparing to move back into the Barham Park Estate after 1970s prefab homes were demolished and rebuilt.

Many of the hundreds of people living on the estate in Saunderton Road moved out of their homes two years ago when regeneration work began and have recently got their first look at the new properties.

The first phase of 62 homes for social housing, 31 for shared ownership and 37 for private sale will be fully occupied by October, but the first residents will be allowed back in by the end of August.

In contrast to the old plaster, wood and cardboard houses, the new development has a living planted roof that will control the temperature of the building and absorb rainfall, as well as solar-powered air conditioning.

The properties are a mixture of one to four bed flats, with some three and four bed maisonettes.

The construction work is set to continue until 2016, when Brent Council’s partnership with Notting Hill Housing Trust and Countryside Properties aims to deliver a total of 335 new homes.