A major development milestone was celebrated last week Tuesday 26th November at St William’s Regent’s View on the Canal development in this key City fringe location. The topping out of the development follows on swiftly from the announcement of a deal to deliver the first 84 social rent homes to Gateway Housing Association onsite.
The “topping-out” ceremony saw representatives from St William (part of the Berkeley Group), London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Gateway Housing Association, and architects RSHP gathered to mark the completion of one of the first structural frames.
At Regent’s View, a former gasworks is being transformed into a thriving new community in the heart of Bethnal Green. Working with RSHP, the masterplan has been carefully crafted with the two distinctive Victorian gasholders as centrepieces and references to the distinctive character of Bethnal Green. The design for Regent’s View on the Canal was recognised in the World Architecture Festival 2024 as the best future residential scheme of the year.
Upon completion the 4.5-acre site will feature 555 homes, as well as 45,000 square feet of commercial and community space set around a newly created 1.7 acre public park and canalside and new pedestrian and cycle routes.
The 84 social rent homes at Regent’s View are currently in delivery alongside another 82 affordable homes being delivered for Gateway Housing by St James, at Bow Common. The flourishing partnership builds on Gateway’s strong track record of supporting communities to thrive, with a close focus on quality and proactive listening to improve services through activities like ‘tea-and-talk’ sessions.
Representatives were also on site from Streets of Growth, St William’s charity partner, who earlier this year received the first tranche of financial support raised by the St William team. As well as financial support for Streets of Growth’s ‘Inspire Young Women’ programme. The first year of the partnership has seen St William provide direct support to young people by hosting a site tour and careers insight day at Regent’s View on the Canal. The development is already creating significant benefits, with 12 jobs on-site and 4 local apprentices.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “It’s fantastic to see the progress being made on this development, which will deliver 84 much-needed social rent homes for Tower Hamlets residents. We have made it a priority to build the affordable new homes our borough desperately needs and this strong partnership between the Council, developer, and housing association is a terrific example of how we are delivering those homes."
Mal Sagoo, Director of Development and Assets of Gateway Housing said: “We are delighted to have established a great partnership with St William to develop affordable housing at Regent’s View. This project provides much needed family housing to be let at social rent levels as well as high-quality public realm and helps us meet our ongoing commitment to develop places in which people feel proud to live within our heartland of Tower Hamlets.”
Dean Summers, Divisional Managing Director of St James/ St William (part of Berkeley Group), said: “Through a close, collaborative partnership we have been able to work with Tower Hamlets Borough Council to unlock this site and a stretch of Regent’s Canal that has been inaccessible for over 150 years. Our team has deployed a long-term approach and we’re looking forward to the delivery of hundreds of homes on this brownfield site. Once complete the development will introduce a range of exciting amenities to an area which already benefits from Broadway Market and over 70 independent shops, cafes and restaurants.”