The Mayor of London has given the green light for the next phase of Aberfeldy Village, at a call-in hearing at City Hall on 26th January 2024.

Developer EcoWorld London and housing and regeneration association Poplar HARCA are driving the regeneration to deliver over 1,500 much needed new homes at the Aberfeldy estate in Poplar. Plans will also deliver new community amenities, a revitalised high street, new green spaces and play areas, and improvements to local parks. The project will increase connectivity by creating safe, sustainable, and beneficial transport options.

Aberfeldy residents are shaping the plans, meaning affordable housing prioritised for local people. 39% of the new homes will be affordable, of which 89% will be for social rent. All current residents who want to stay on the Estate can move to new homes with a guarantee of social rents.

Alongside the much-needed new homes, he masterplan will also deliver resident priorities for new and improved public open space and a revitalised local high street, with new shops and cafés, and new workspace for local businesses.

The proposals include:

• Over 1,500 new homes, 39% affordable. 89% of the affordable homes will be social rent, with 46% family-sized with 3 or more bedrooms.
• Over 3,550 sqm of new public open space – the equivalent to 18 tennis courts – including a new square, Highland Place, Nairn Park.
• Improvements existing open spaces at Millennium Green, Leven Road, Braithwaite Park and Jolly’s Green.
• 2,300 sqm of commercial space, and 2,600 sqm of workspace.
• 8,600sqm of green space including over 5,000 sqm of play space and 4,500 sqm of playable landscape.
• A repurposed Abbott Road underpass, safely connecting the Estate for pedestrians and cyclists.

The overwhelming community support for the proposals, including 960 letters, 3,100 messages, and 1,200 positive comments on the Greater London Authority portal, illustrate the role residents have, and will continue to have, in developing plans with EcoWorld London and Poplar HARCA.

Over the last 10 years the partnership has delivered more than 900 homes, workspace, public square, community centre, nursery, public park and public art – all in collaboration with the local community. The scheme has won numerous awards including Best Housing Partnership at the British Homes Awards 2022, and Best Community Engagement at the 2022 Pineapple Awards.

This year will deliver a new GP surgery and grocery shop, and a larger and more accessible Aberfeldy Mosque.

The new masterplan is designed by architects Levitt Bernstein working alongside a design team comprising Morris+Company, LDA Design and ZCD Architects.

Lisa Gledhill, Managing Director (Development) at EcoWorld London said:

“We’re so pleased with the Mayor of London’s decision to proceed with this next phase as we know what this will mean to the people of Aberfeldy. It has been an honour to work with the community so closely to get this over the line, hearing why, although they are so happy to call Aberfeldy home, it is important to them for the change to continue. We’re proud of the positive change that we, our partners, and Tower Hamlets Council have delivered so far, and we’re excited that this decision will enable change to continue.”

Steve Stride, Chief Executive at Poplar HARCA said:

“On behalf of our Aberfeldy community, I am grateful to London’s Mayor for taking this decision. The majority of Aberfeldy Residents support these plans, and for many years have been making sure they reflect community priorities. Poplar HARCA is looking forward to continuing to work with our community to deliver not only much-needed new affordable homes, but also beautiful open spaces; community, faith, and health facilities; and new shops.”