Advertisement
Housing

Robin Hood Gardens: Demolition of iconic London housing estate begins

Bulldozers begin razing Robin Hood Gardens, the social housing estate in Poplar set to be replaced by mix of flats for private sale, market and social rents

It was one of the most notable of all of London’s post-war housing estates, a groundbreaking scheme offering working-class people in the east end the chance to live in “streets in the sky.”

But Robin Hood Gardens will soon be no more: the demolition of the estate in Poplar is now under way following a lengthy process of moving tenants and leaseholders out.

Last year The Big Issue detailed the process of clearing the estate of its residents. Some were moved into housing association properties at higher rents, while owner-leaseholders were offered sums that meant they struggled to buy again in the same area.

Now that the bulldozers have moved in on the Anderson House part of the estate, a different kind of community looks set to emerge at the site near Canary Wharf.

Robin Hood Gardens’ replacement, known as Blackwall Reach, will have 1,575 homes across an expanded area, but only 698 of the units (45%) will be “affordable”.

I’d lay money that within 15 years this area will be predominately middle-class

Swan Housing Association, charged with managing much of the regeneration process, told The Big Issue 80% of the affordable homes would be available for social rent, rather than “intermediate” rates. Swan’s development arm Nu living has been selling some of the replacement flats on the private market.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

One former resident, Darren Pauling, told the magazine: “It being so close to Canary Wharf, I’d lay money that within 15 years this area will be predominately middle-class.”

Much of this process has been typical of regeneration schemes happening across London.

But lovers of concrete “brutalism” felt this particular estate was a cut above many of the system-built tower blocks of the 1960s, and merited a second life through refurbishment.

The 20th Century Society and several leading architects campaigned over many years for Robin Hood Gardens’ to be listed.

Simon Smithson, son of the buildings’ architects Alison and Peter Smithson, described its demolition as “an act of vandalism.”

He recently told Dezeen that the decision to get rid of it was “a failure on the part of all those charged with protecting the nation’s architectural heritage.”

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle
Somerford Grove Renters in Hackney
Renting

Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results
school children at desks
Education

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results

Electric van to help charity deliver 50,000 meals to homeless people
Four people stand around an electric van
Homelessness

Electric van to help charity deliver 50,000 meals to homeless people

Doubt cast on Rachel Reeves’ claim Labour will be in ‘touching distance’ of building 1.5 million homes
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner meet construction workers at the Bournes Bank site in Stoke-on-Trent.
Housing

Doubt cast on Rachel Reeves’ claim Labour will be in ‘touching distance’ of building 1.5 million homes

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue