• Planning approval was secured for 26 New Affordable Homes on top of two existing council blocks in East Ham and Stratford
• The new programme will add new homes to retrofitted existing blocks, halving carbon emissions and bringing them up to modern environmental standards
This week, the Newham Strategic Development Committee approved two ground-breaking rooftop affordable housing developments at sites in Stratford and East Ham. The airspace developments engineered by Newham Council’s housing company, Populo Living will deliver 26 London Affordable Rent homes on top of existing Council blocks, offering not only an innovative solution to the borough's housing crisis but also helping the Council tackle the climate emergency as part of our Just Transition climate plans.
The planning approvals mark another new milestone as part of the Council’s commitment to finding innovative solutions to tackle housing needs in the borough. The new build homes will all be built to the highest standards ensuring they are fuel efficient, environmentally sustainable, and help keep bills down for residents. Existing residents will get also have first choice on the new home which all exceed space standards.
The approved planning application for St Matthews Court in Stratford involves a two-storey roof extension and a six-storey side extension, delivering 18 additional homes to those on Newham Council’s housing waiting list. The project will see the refurbishment of existing flats, the installation of external insulation, brick-over cladding, and the replacement of windows, significantly improving the building's thermal performance. New secure cycle parking and refuse storage facilities, along with hard and soft landscaping, will enhance open spaces around the site.
At Folkestone Road in East Ham, 8 new one- and two-bedroom highly energy-efficient homes will also feature zinc cladding and recessed balconies, accompanied by enhancements to the existing building, including window replacements, thermal performance upgrades, external amenity space improvements, and landscaping with new tree planting. New secure cycle parking and bin stores will be integrated to meet the needs of current and future residents.
The innovation airspace program was approved in Cabinet in December 2020 to explore the potential of building new affordable homes on existing Council blocks to enable much-needed new homes to be delivered fairly quickly. Following the first 26 homes now approved, Populo will look at other sites where this program could be delivered in Newham. Beyond providing new affordable homes, the program includes upgrading existing blocks to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs for residents. All new homes will be built to a net-zero standard, utilizing modern construction methods to expedite delivery and minimize inconvenience to neighbouring residents.
The new homes at St Matthews Court and Folkestone Road are due to start on-site in early 2025 with completions due in mid-2026.