The biggest social housing development in east London has been shortlisted for another housing industry award.
The massive Ocean Estate in Stepney is on the list as one of Britain’s ‘best regeneration projects’ in the 2016 Housebuilder awards.
The vast housing scheme by the Regent’s Canal, between the Mile End Road and Ben Johnson Road half-a-mile to the south, began with a massive government injection in 2010 under Tony Blair.
It has taken six years so far, with the final phase started in September to pull down three unsightly tower blocks and replace them with low-ride development set in landscaped grounds.
“The Ocean Estate is an example of development done right,” Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs said. “It is getting the recognition it deserves as one of the UK’s best regeneration initiatives.”
The regeneration with East Thames housing group has already won industry awards including being tagged ‘Best new place to live’ in 2015 by the former Mayor of London.
It has created more than 800 new homes so far, with a new shopping parade, community centre and GP practice, as well as landscaped gardens with 376 trees and 7,000 shrubs planted, new roads, improved street lighting and two children’s play areas.
Ocean is one of Tower Hamlets council’s most ambitious regeneration projects, alongside the massive Blackwall Reach development on Poplar’s former Robin Hood Gardens estate by the Blackwall Tunnel.
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