A new park has been opened as the centrepiece of a £250m ‘village regeneration’ housing scheme in the heart of London’s East End.

East London Advertiser: New park in Aberfeldy Village housing scheme in PoplarNew park in Aberfeldy Village housing scheme in Poplar (Image: Poplar Harca)

The linea open space forms a green spine through the Aberfeldy Village development in Poplar and is being lined by liquidamber tree saplings and planting to give colour all year round when the scheme is completed.

A diversity strategy is being worked out with the Wildlife Trust to create new habitats to encourage wildlife.

The Aberfeldy scheme to transform a run-down Docklands neighbourhood is the largest regeneration in this part of east London.

It will have 1,100 new homes when completed, including social rent and shared-ownership, the first phase now completed with 300 families already moved in.

The neighbourhood has long felt isolated by the River Lea and Bow Creek on one side and the A12 Blackwall Tunnell Approach and A13 East India Dock Road on the other.

The scheme includes a health centre, community centre, shops and a new public square, as well as the park just opened by Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs. Work is expected to start on the third phase in the autumn.