New homes erase 40-year scar of Ronan Point

24 November 2009

Butcher's Row... regeneration completed

A MAJOR £52 million development has been completed this week in East London, erasing the 40-year-old scar of Ronan Point.

The scheme in Canning Town completes the massive regeneration in the area down as far as Custom House, despite the recession hitting the construction industry.

It also finally removes memories of Ronan Point tower block in Butcher's Road which partially-collapsed in a gas explosion in 1968, killing three people.

The regeneration includes 217 apartments and 39 houses on seven sites, many allocated to overcrowded families being rehoused from other areas where further regeneration is planned.

Four-out-of-10 properties are social housing including allocations to reduce East London's chronic waiting list. A-quarter are 'shared ownership,' nine per cent for intermediate rent, 11 per cent rent-to-purchase and 12 per cent for outright sale on the open property market.

The regeneration includes £21m Social Housing grant from the Homes & Communities Agency.