Tower Hamlet’s political and community leaders celebrated a major milestone yesterday (Thursday) in the transformation of a derelict East End gasworks into a low carbon neighbourhood with over 1,400 private and affordable homes.
The ‘topping out’ ceremony took place up on the 19th floor to mark the completion of the structural frame of the tallest building in phase one.
Guests included Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman, Gateway Housing Association Project Director Rhiannon Meredith, Berkeley Group Chief Executive Rob Perrins and St James and St William Director Dean Summers.
After being closed off for 170 years, the 9-acre former gasworks is being carefully regenerated by St James (a Berkeley Group company) to create a green and welcoming part of Tower Hamlets.
The vision for Bow Green includes over 1,400 homes, 35% of which will be affordable homes for borough residents. Half of these affordable properties will be three and four-bedroom homes to meet the needs of local families.
The new neighbourhood will include the restored heritage building at 120 Bow Common, shops, restaurants, biodiverse habitats, children’s playspace and a network of green and walkable routes which link up with surrounding streets.
The heart of Bow Green will be a beautifully landscaped five-acre Bow Park, including an amphitheatre and a mix of habitats and recreation spaces for people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy.
The masterplan, designed by Studio Egret West and Murdoch Wickam, has been developed through close engagement with Tower Hamlets Borough Council and local residents and stakeholders.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, says: “Housing is my number one priority and so I am very pleased to see the delivery of 82 affordable homes, part of a much larger development, that will help breathe new life into this area of Bow.
“My ambition is for all residents to live in decent, affordable homes, but the sad fact is that a large percentage of Tower Hamlets households are severely overcrowded. We have the answer – to build more genuinely affordable homes – and I can confirm that Tower Hamlets is open for the right kind of development.”
Dean Summers, Managing Director of St James and St William said: “Bow Green will see a long disused gasworks transform into a green and welcoming neighbourhood, with low carbon private and affordable homes alongside beautiful public spaces for everyone to enjoy. This is long term brownfield regeneration at its best and we’re hugely proud to be working partnership with Tower Hamlets Borough Council and local people to create a place of lasting benefit and social value.”
Gateway Housing Association based in East London, will own and manage the new affordable homes being built by St James in the first phase of Bow Green. 54 homes will be allocated for Tower Hamlets Living Rent, whilst a further 28 homes are allocated as Shared Ownership, including duplex homes on Maple Mews, the gateway to Bow Park. The one, two, three and four bedroom homes will be ready for residents to move in by 2026.