New homes for Newham

Continuing towards its goals of responsible growth and building mixed, sustainable communities, at the end of 2009 L&Q announced the completion of a £52 million development programme in Newham.

In November 2009 L&Q completed a large development on Butchers Road in Canning Town bringing to an end its large scale Canning Town and Custom House regeneration project. Over the past three years L&Q has worked with Higgins Construction to build a total of 217 apartments and 39 houses spread across seven separate sites around the Canning Town and Custom House area.

This represents a major element of the London Borough of Newham's regeneration of Canning Town and Custom House. The sites were all previously owned by Newham Council and many of the new properties have been allocated to local residents decanting from other sites in the Canning Town area where further regeneration is planned.

The tenure mix is:

• 42% for social rent (107 homes)
• 26% for shared ownership (68 homes)
• 12% for outright sale (30 homes)
• 11% for the new L&Q rent-to-purchase product – UpToYou (28 homes)
• 9% for intermediate rent (23 homes)

The developments include a high number of large family homes:

• 5 three bed houses
• 27 four bed houses
  
• 7 five bed houses

In addition, eight properties are adapted for occupation by wheelchair users.

L&Q has worked closely with Newham Council on the design of the various schemes and three separate firms of architects were involved. Simon Baxter, Senior Land and Development Manager at L&Q, said, "We have been working with Newham Council and local residents on this project since it was originally tendered in 2000 and we are very proud of the final results.

"Not only have we created some visually striking blocks of flats here, we have also built a high number of well-designed large family houses. Feedback from residents who have already moved in has been very positive and this scheme is a shining example of L&Q continuing its mission of creating places where people want to live."

The total scheme cost is £52 million. Funding for the scheme included a £21.5 million Social Housing Grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), a £4.3 million investment from L&Q and a mix of private investment.

Jonathan Martin, Head of Area for East London at the HCA, said: "This development will deliver high quality affordable housing and contribute to the wider regeneration of Canning Town, a priority area for Newham. The HCA's funding has enabled the provision of an extensive range of housing options to give local people the widest possible choice."

Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales said, "Canning Town and Custom House is firmly on the road to regeneration and renewal. This mixed communities initiative, offering a range of good quality, affordable housing, is a sign of the great benefits of the area."

L&Q's seven sites at Canning Town & Custom House

• Butchers Road Garages Architects: BPTW Partnership
• Crediton Road Architects: Sergison Bates
• Fords Park Road Architects: BPTW Partnership
• Butchers Road Architects: BPTW Partnership
• Rogers Road Architects: Jestico & Whiles
• Tarling Road Architects: BPTW Partnership Vandome Close Architects: Jestico & Whiles