Demolition of old tower blocks heralds progress at Waterloo Estate
Romford’s first tower blocks, are being demolished to make way for a new development at Waterloo and Queen Street to build 1,380 new homes for local people.
Standing tall in the area since 1961, William Pike House and Thomas England House, the two eleven story (120 feet) buildings are no longer fit for purpose, and the area is being transformed into an exciting new community.
Waterloo Estate in Romford is the largest of the 12 Estates projects with Joint Venture partner Wates Residential, creating over 550 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom affordable homes for local people.
The homes will be built from high-quality and traditional building materials, and will provide commercial workspace, play space, a raingarden and a community village green.
Today on-site, Councillor Damian White, Leader of Havering Council and Neil Stubbings, Director of Regeneration, were joined by Tim Wates from Wates Residential, to see the towers coming down.
Councillor White, said:
“This is the largest estate regeneration scheme on Council-owned land in London and is representative of Havering Council’s plans to create modern, energy efficient homes for local people.
“It is great to be here today to see the old tower blocks coming down, soon to be replaced with homes fit for future generations of Havering residents to live in and enjoy.”
Hugh Jeffrey, Regional Development Director, Wates Residential, commented:
“We believe everyone deserves a great place to live, and the demolition of these concrete blocks are a necessary physical change to the Romford landscape that will lead to the creation of new comfortable homes for families to thrive in.
“The new homes that will replace them have been designed specifically with local people in mind and will form a community which is surrounded by open green space for playing and relaxing”.
The £1.5 billion joint venture programme between Havering Council and Wates Residential will see at least 3,500 high-quality new homes delivered in Havering over the next 12 to 15 years.
Other sites in the programme include Napier and New Plymouth House in Rainham and Solar, Serena and Sunrise Courts in Hornchurch, where work has recently started on a new retirement village.
Wates Residential is part of leading privately-owned construction, property services and development company, the Wates Group, and alongside Havering Council has made a commitment to buy British wherever possible, with 20 percent of all spend going to local Small and Medium Enterprises, valued at £100m.