Plans submitted to demolish vacant Bow tower block to make way for 145 new homes
Plans have been put forward to demolish Clare House, which was abandoned in 2021 after safety concerns, to make way for 145 new homes.
Clare House, the tower block that has stood empty for almost four years after residents were evacuated over safety concerns, could be demolished to make way for a new housing development.
In October 2021, Clare House residents were forced to leave their homes because of fire safety issues and structural problems following a survey carried out by their landlord, Clarion Housing Association.
Clarion Housing said at the time that the building could not be kept safe without ‘major refurbishment, or demolition and rebuilding’. Since then, the 1960s building has stood vacant and is the last-surviving 22-storey tower block which was once part of the Monteith Road Estate, also known as the Old Ford Road Estate.
The other two identical tower blocks, which made up the estate, were demolished in 2002 as part of a regeneration masterplan and were replaced with new low-rise housing. Clarion Housing has submitted a planning application which could see Clare House demolished to make way for a new 23-storey tower block and two, five-storey ‘mansion blocks’ that would sit on either side of it.
Of the 145 homes that are set to be built, there would be 39 one-beds, 32 two-beds, 52 three-beds, and 22 four-beds, while 16 homes would be wheelchair accessible – all of the homes would be for social rent.
According to a planning report which will be considered by Tower Hamlets Council’s Strategic Development Committee next week (23 April), all of the Clare House tenants have been permanently rehomed but have been offered the right to return.
The Francis Lee Community Centre, a one-storey building attached to Clare House, is also not currently in use because of safety concerns and is set for demolition. Under the plans, the community centre would be replaced with an improved facility that would provide 198.5 sqm of community floorspace.
The site is also home to Jasmine Park, which Clarion Housing is planning to make improvements to, as well as the creation of a new children’s play space called Sycamore Park.
During the public consultation phase, 274 letters were sent out to neighbouring properties, which saw one person respond in support while six people objected to the plans.
The person who was in support of the plans said it would provide new homes and represent an ‘architectural improvement’ for the site. However, objectors said the proposed design was not ‘appropriate’ for the local area and argued an increased number of residents would put additional pressure on existing local health services, which they said are already struggling to meet demand.
Planning officers said the development would help to achieve the borough’s strategic housing targets and deliver a ‘good standard’ of accommodation for future residents. They added: “The proposed redevelopment of the currently vacant site would improve upon the site’s existing efficiency, providing a far greater quantum of habitable rooms through the delivery of larger sized family homes.”
The council’s Strategic Development Committee has been recommended to approve the plans at a meeting next week.
If you liked this article, read This is Home: memories from Clare House of life before eviction
