The estate was developed in the mid 1880s and comprised about 800 houses. Yates had an eye for the provision of services to his new residents: plots were laid aside for schools and churches, and he attempted (without success) to persuade the railway to open another station between Nunhead and Honor Oak.

He also closely controlled the nature of shops - originally this parade included a grocery, diary, post office, butcher, confectioner and greengrocer.

Ivydale Road is the main axis of the unusually large Wavertree Park estate by Edward Yates.

Yates was a local builder, who was also responsible for other developments in Camberwell and for housing near Walworth Road.