Major Residential Development Gets Green Light in East London
Planning approval has been secured for a significant new residential development on a derelict brownfield site in East London, promising to deliver 245 new homes to one of the capital's most rapidly changing neighbourhoods.
Property developer Blue Coast Capital has appointed architectural practice Morris+Company to create the new scheme for Fleet Street Hill, located adjacent to the famous Brick Lane area within the borough of Tower Hamlets.
Details of the Fleet Street Hill Development
The project will transform the 13,300 metre squared site with two new tower blocks. One will stand at 11 storeys, while the other will be a part-11, part-12 storey structure.
The development will provide 220 co-living studio units alongside 25 homes designated for social rent, marking a substantial increase in residential density for the area.
A key community feature includes a single-storey pavilion situated at the site's western tip, which is planned to house a café and dedicated community space. This aims to encourage local engagement and create a vibrant neighbourhood hub.
This new plan replaces a more modest proposal by Londonewcastle, which involved a 14-storey office building and a smaller mixed-use housing project on the Huntingdon Estate. That previous scheme faced local opposition and was only approved after an appeal against Tower Hamlets Council's initial rejection in 2015.
Gentrification Concerns in London's Most Transformed Borough
The development arrives amid persistent concerns about gentrification and rising living costs in the area. Brick Lane, historically known as 'Banglatown' for its significant Bangladeshi community, faces pressure on residents and local businesses as the area becomes increasingly desirable.
A report released earlier this year by Trust for London identified Tower Hamlets as the London borough with the highest number of gentrified neighbourhoods. Spitalfields, where this new development is located, topped the list.
According to the report's findings, the area has experienced an average income increase of 45% between 2012 and 2020. Meanwhile, house prices in these gentrified neighbourhoods were, on average, 250% more expensive between 2010 and 2023, compared to a 200% rise across the rest of London.
Blue Coast Capital has conducted public exhibitions and workshops to incorporate community feedback. The emphasis on co-living spaces, affordable housing, and family-sized homes directly addresses London's ongoing housing supply and affordability crisis.
However, the development has drawn attention from local campaign groups. Recent years have seen opposition from the Save Brick Lane Campaign, which contested the Truman Brewery planning proposals, as well as the Social Housing Action Campaign and the Spitalfields Society.
While no fixed construction timetable has been announced for the Fleet Street Hill site, the planning consent represents a crucial milestone in regenerating this derelict corner of Spitalfields.
