Deputy Mayor of London Celebrates Ground-breaking On Latest Phase Of The £300m Blackwall Reach Regeneration

Swan Housing Association, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH) and the Greater London Authority yesterday formally celebrated work starting on Phase 1B, the latest phase of Swan’s exciting £300m regeneration project which will deliver over 1,500 new homes in Tower Hamlets of which half will be affordable. The scheme , which will be completed by 2026, also includes new community facilities, commercial units and improved access to Blackwall DLR through enhanced public realm.

James Murray, the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Property at the GLA, formally marked the start of work at the event alongside Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs and John Synnuck, Chief Executive of Swan Housing Association.

Over the scheme 52% of all homes, which will be high-quality, secure and energy efficient, will be affordable. The latest phase of the development will deliver 242 new homes while the scheme has already seen a number of substantial improvements for Londoners, including an extension of the local Woolmore Primary School, a replacement mosque, a new multi-purpose Community Hub (also opened today) as well as 98 new affordable homes at Phase 1A built for local residents and a new Swan Regional office.

This phase will also create a new public square surrounded by the three residential towers with space for new shops and cafes at ground floor level and improved access to the Blackwall DLR station.

John Synnuck, Chief Executive, Swan Housing Group said:

“At Swan we are committed to building exemplary homes and communities. We are proud to celebrate the ground-breaking of Phase 1B of the Blackwall Reach regeneration project which, when complete, will offer much needed high-quality homes for the borough as well as community space.Swan is proud to be working closely with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the Greater London Authority to deliver housing in Tower Hamlets.”

James Murray, Deputy Mayor for Housing Land and Property said:

“I was pleased to join the Mayor of Tower Hamlets and Swan Housing at this development in which half of all homes will be affordable. The Mayor is committed to a long-term strategic goal of 50 per cent of all new homes being affordable to buy and rent, and is working with developers, councils, housing associations and other to build the homes Londoners need.”

John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets said:

“The Blackwall Reach Regeneration scheme is transforming this area, creating more than 1500 new homes, including 679 affordable homes, 561 of which will be at social rent and a further 118 for shared ownership or equity. The next stage of this project will not only deliver new homes but a new public space for the community, much improved transport links and create local jobs and business opportunities with the new retail and café locations. The scope of the Blackwall Reach scheme is extensive and it’s important that at all stages of the development we continue to put in place the infrastructure and facilities to support the expanding community.”