Delivering social and economic transformation through estate regeneration

Delivered as part of a wider estate regeneration project by a joint venture between Wates Residential and London Borough of Havering Council, New Green replaces two poor-quality 13-storey tower blocks that were having a negative impact on the street, neighbourhood and wider area, with an integrated new community formed of mid-rise, high-density buildings of 197 homes, arranged around new open spaces and public realm.

The new 197 high-quality, well-insulated dwellings are provided in a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, of which 64% will be affordable. The new three to ten storey buildings sensitively address the different edge conditions of the site, improve connectivity, enhance biodiversity and deliver amenity space that responds to the needs of the local community.

A linear landscaped space at the heart of the new community provides leisure and amenity space, echoing the alignment of a historical route between New Road and Dunedin Road – addressing desire lines for pedestrian movement.

JTP analysed the historical development of the area and the social and physical context of the site. Before preparing the design proposals, our studies highlighted the historic connections between Rainham, the River Thames, and the marshland. The client and design team developed an ambition to strengthen the connection to the river and marshland through the design of the project’s landscape and building design. The result will give the area a distinctive character and identity rooted in the unique history of the place and its people.

The architectural approach references nearby Rainham Marshes, with a marshland-led landscape proposal and complementary colour palette, and the use of Rainham steel for the entrances and wayfinding.

The team needed to significantly increase density to achieve the viability objectives which was achieved with a high-density, low-rise solution which sensitively integrated with its surrounding context whilst delivering a significant uplift in density. This intensification necessitated taking stakeholders ‘on a journey’ through the design process to demonstrate how great places, if well designed, can deliver higher densities and still knit seamlessly into their suburban context.

A programme of community engagement included an event at Rainham Primary School to include schoolchildren in the design of the new neighbourhood using Minecraft the computer game.