I love my (council) house

Holly Lodge, Highgate Woods, London It's council housing - but not as most (non-council dwelling) people imagine it Photograph: Glyn Robbins Photograph: Glyn Robbins/guardian.co.uk New council homes in Croydon Croydon Council is building its first new council housing for 22 years. 34 new homes were completed in the first phase of development. A further 128 are due for completion this year. The new homes are being built on underused council sites and will have solar panels for hot water and wind turbines to generate power. Photograph: Glyn Robbins Photograph: Glyn Robbins/guardian.co.uk The bandstand on the Boundary Estate in Bethnal Green, East London Built in 1900 by the newly formed London County Council, the Boundary Estate is one of the oldest council estates in the country. It was built on the site of the notorious Old Nichol slum and provided new housing for 5,500 people, along with schools, workshops, churches and a laundry. Residents of the estate voted to stay as council tenants in a ballot in 2006. Photograph: Glyn Robbins Photograph: Glyn Robbins/guardian.co.uk The view from Pauline House, Tower Hamlets Photograph: Phil Maxwell Photograph: Phil Maxwell/guardian.co.uk Letchworth Garden City Letchworth in Hertfordshire was the first Garden City. Built in the early 20th century by community organiser Ebenezer Howard . It is not council owned - but is owned communally and the land is held in trust . It predates most UK council housing and was pioneering in its design and layout. Photograph: Glyn Robbins Photograph: Glyn Robbins/guardian.co.uk Cranbook Estate, Bethnal Green, East London The Cranbrook Estate was built as part of the massive expansion of council house provision after the second world war. The photo shows the cottages for older people set around a garden, with a pond, a fountain and a statue; The Blind Beggar, by artist Elisabeth Frink. Photograph: Glyn Robbins Photograph: Glyn Robbins/guardian.co.uk Sunrising Estate, East Looe, Cornwall Photograph: Glyn Robbins Photograph: Glyn Robbins/guardian.co.uk Peckwater Estate, Kentish Town The man leaning on the fence with the yellow T-shirt is Alan Walter, the former Chair of Defend Council Housing , who died in March 2009. The Positively Public Housing exhibition is dedicated to Alan’s memory and his tireless work for the present and future of council housing. Photograph: Glyn Robbins Photograph: Glyn Robbins/guardian.co.uk