Young families and elderly residents who have lived in a housing estate for generations fear their homes could be demolished within a decade under draft redevelopment plans by the council.

Tenants and leaseholders of the Summersby Road estate in Highgate, many of whom are children or retired, are urging Haringey Council to rethink earmarking the site for potential redevelopment to provide more affordable housing.

Meanwhile in Crouch End, residents fear draft plans to build 51 flats on the Lynton Road industrial estate will close a number of well-established businesses.

The proposals form part of Haringey’s draft local plan identifying sites where more housing could be built by 2026 to solve a housing crisis in the west of the borough.

Journalist Sarah Cope, 36, lives on the Summersby Road estate with her two yong children. She said: “We understand that there’s a need to build more housing for London’s expanding population. But knocking down existing housing is no way to resolve that.”

The draft plan earmarks the builder’s yard next to the estate as a site for potential redevelopment, and does not make clear any plans for demolishing existing homes.

The estate’s residents were alarmed to receive a letter from the council notifying them that their homes could be knocked down and rebuilt. The council has since confirmed that it will explore the possibility of rebuilding the estate.

Accusations of council secrecy over the draft plans were made by the estate’s residents, as well as those living in Lynton Road and the surrounding streets. The Crouch End community claims the council did not tell any of Lynton Road’s businesses about the draft plans for the industrial estate, which could threaten traders with closure.

Topsfield Road resident Nicola Sharpe said: “The plans appear to be being rushed through secretly without proper consultation.”

A spokesman from Haringey Council said: “While there are no firm plans for Summersby Road or Lynton Road, we’re clear that we must explore every possibility to bring the new affordable housing that Haringey desperately needs.

“There is no suggestion that any redevelopment will definitely happen.” The council pledged to carry out consultations with residents.