Derelict Heygate estate in south London - in pictures

The estate, which is situated between Walworth Road and New Kent Road, was built in 1974 and once housed up to 3,000 residents Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The demolition of the estate is due to be completed in 2015 as part of the £1.5bn Elephant and Castle regeneration scheme Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The choir sings at a service at Crossway church in the Heygate estate. Its congregation made up of native Londoners as well as people from Ghana, Jamaica, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Korea, Brazil, eastern Europe and the US. The church has served the local community at different sites around Elephant and Castle for almost 150 years, but has been at its current location since the estate was built Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The architect Tim Tinker designed the estate so that all the buildings would be linked by concrete walkways Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Some areas of the estate have already been demolished while work is delayed on the remaining areas owing to the asbestos used in their construction Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

A dog stands next to a pile of rubbish in the estate which had a reputation for poverty and crime before residents were relocated by the local council. Those who owned the leasedhold on their property were subject to compulsory purchase orders Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

A young woman spray paints a wall. The derelict estate has become a popular for street artists Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Passengers wait to board a train at Elephant and Castle train station as one of the Heygate blocks looms in the background Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Vegetables grow in an improvised polytunnel on a raised walkway, urban gardeners have also taken advantage of the unused space Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Tags and graffiti cover many of the walls in the area Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The Shard, Renzo Piano's 300-metre-high tower, stands in shiny contrast with the neo-Corbusian architecture of the estate Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Juan Carlos and Nadia Romero take part in a latin dance class in an abandoned shop Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images