A UNIQUE complex of mix and match’ housing has been opened in London’s East End where families being rehoused from the waiting list have been given state-of-the-art homes—with private home owners for their neighbours

By Mike Brooke

A UNIQUE complex of mix and match’ housing has been opened in London’s East End where families being rehoused from the waiting list have been given state-of-the-art homes—with private home owners for their neighbours.

The mixed-tenure housing development in Bethnal Green has been officially opened by Tower Hamlets mayor Ahmed Omar.

It is on the site of the former Bradley House, a run-down bock of council maisonettes built in the late 1950s that had been derelict for several years and blighted by illicit drug dens and squatters before the bulldozers finally moved in four years ago.

The development is made up of 77 mixed tenure’ rented, shared-ownership and outright sale’ properties next to Denys Lasdun’s iconic Keeling House, the first council tower block in London opened in 1958 that is now Grade II-listed and converted to private apartments.

Many of the homes have their front doors opening directly onto the street, rather than onto courtyards segregated from the street which are typical of most pre-war and post-war housing estates.

“From the beginning it was important it reflected the original street pattern,” explained Tower Hamlets Community Housing development director Peter Exton. “But we also wanted it to compliment the famous Keeling House as well as meet social housing needs.”

The social’ housing includes homes for rent allocated to families on Tower Hamlets long waiting list, to help reduce overcrowding.

Many sustainable’ features have been included in the development, such as a copper finish which has a low environmental impact and wood from renewable sources. Grass roofs and solar panels complete the development with lower energy costs.