Blackwall Reach

Swan Housing Association, in partnership with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the GLA, continues its £600m regeneration project at Blackwall Reach which will deliver over 1,500 new homes in Tower Hamlets, of which around half will be affordable for social rent and shared ownership.

The scheme, which will be completed by 2026, also includes new community facilities, commercial units and improved access to Blackwall DLR and local amenities through enhanced public realm.

The first phases have been completed, creating 340 new homes, along with new shops and cafes set around a new public square, a new Swan office, a community facility, a replacement mosque and an extended school.

The next phase of 268 units is currently being built on site by NU living and progressing well towards a completion in the summer of 2022.

www.blackwallreach.co.uk

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Contract duration: 10 years

Tenure mix: 1,575 homes: 896 private sale, 118 shared ownership, 561 social rent apartments (all phases)

Construction method: Concrete frame

Development partners: London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the GLA

Awards: – Planning Award 2015: Award for Housing

Growth

Phase 1a

Phase 1a of the project delivered 98 new affordable homes for people living and working in Tower Hamlets, including leaseholders and tenants from Robin Hood Gardens enabling them to remain in the local area. This phase also delivered a new regional housing office for Swan; a replacement mosque, an extended local school and The Reach, a fabulous new community facility at Blackwall Reach.

Tenure mix: 98 homes, 19 shared ownership, 79 social rent apartments Main consultants: Architect: Aedas and Frank Reynolds Engineer: Brand Consulting Engineers

Phase 2

Beautifully positioned around a tranquil park and landscaped areas, the 268 new homes in this latest phase enjoy excellent views and peaceful living next to a revitalised Millennium Green. Parkside West, replaces the west block of Robin Hood Gardens with a mix of new social and affordable housing for the existing residents of Robin Hood Gardens and new private sale homes which will help cross-subsidise the 50% affordable scheme at Blackwall Reach. Parkside East will complete the transformation of the existing Robin Hood Gardens site by constructing 315 new homes on the eastern half of the park. These homes will be built off-site in Swan's Modular factory. There are many larger family homes located on ground and first-floor levels with private entries as well as gardens or patios.

Tenure mix: 268 homes: 154 private sale, 15 shared ownership, 99 social rent apartments

Main consultants: Architects: Metropolitan Workshop and Haworth Tompkins Engineer: HTS

Phase 1b

This phase delivered an exclusive collection of 242 apartments, all providing spacious living areas and versatile winter gardens. The wider community will benefit from a beautiful courtyard square punctuated by a specially commissioned piece of public artwork and featuring shops and cafés. Close to Blackwall DLR these homes, the majority of which are private sale, will help cross-subsidise the affordable housing across the project.

Tenure mix: 242 homes: 200 private sale, 6 shared ownership, 36 social rent apartments

Main consultants: Architect: bptw architecture Engineer: Price and Myers

Phase 3

Tenure mix: 315 homes: 177 private sale, 45 shared ownership, 93 social rent apartments

Main consultants: Architect: C.F. Møller