Populo have engaged with local residents to re-establish connection and trust within the community of existing and past-residents, to help understand their concerns and wishes. The initial engagement involved testing a series of options with residents which explored options varying from, the refurbishment of existing homes to wholesale redevelopment of the site. Workshop discussions were used to assess the implications of each option and to obtain feedback from the community. The outcome of this exercise has informed the development of the application proposals and acted as a foundation for the resident-led masterplan.
The overarching design principle at the core of the process has been to create a ‘real piece of London’. This encapsulates the varied and dynamic historical, social, and architectural principles that have shaped the city, and are still visible in the current fabric all over the city. Residents have been clear that the key aspirations for the estate is to create a neighbourhood with a 'heart,' with excellent green spaces to relax and play, a variety of building heights and typologies, and a place that is safe to get around during the day or night.
In response to these aspirations, the design team have used a resident-led design approach to create the masterplan that brings together existing and new streets, buildings and public realm and will create a neighbourhood that is welcoming and vibrant. A neighbourhood that is characterised by a diverse mix of people, land use, and built form, with strong relationships between public realm and private dwellings.
The masterplan proposals will deliver up to 2,152 new, refurbished and replacement residences, and will deliver a minimum of 50% of these as affordable homes (measured by habitable room). Refurbished homes will be brought up to modern standards, delivering high quality, energy-efficient housing in parallel with significant environmental benefits by reusing existing structures.
The towers, James Riley Point and Lund Point, have been an important part of The Carpenters history and repurposing them into high quality new buildings will allow their legacy to continue as part of the new masterplan. A range of house sizes have been included, in response to local demand, and will deliver a significant proportion of family homes.
The main facilities at the proposed leisure centre include a sports hall at the first floor and below this a covered external Astroturf pitch. Below the existing residential building there are two multi-purpose studio spaces, the first primarily for use as a dojo, (judo hall), and the second as a dance studio. The facility is accessed through a central courtyard, which draws you into a central foyer space, with a community café to one side and the main reception area to the other, from where the sports facilities can be accessed.
The regeneration area has been designed as a low-traffic neighbourhood, prioritising pedestrian connections to the surrounding area, and restricting vehicular movement across the site. This will result in a safer and more enjoyable pedestrian environment. The public realm has also been designed to facilitate the movement of large (West Ham United) match day crowds to and from the Olympic Park.
The landscape vision focusses on a network of 7 key open spaces which range in character, and are connected by high-quality pedestrian environments. These include formal play space, incidental play space and play street, public squares, and communal amenity space. The proposed development retains as many trees as possible and proposes the planting of over 600 new trees across the masterplan.
An overview of London's largest estate restoration and regeneration scheme
About the Project
Find out how Newham’s housing company Populo are helping to deliver a new future for The Carpenters Estate
Populo – our role
Our community space houses a wide range of activities for families and individuals on The Carpenters Estate
The Dovetail