Community Hub

Clare House

Welcome to our Community Hub to display an overview of our proposals to replace Clare House and deliver 100% of homes at social rent, alongside a new community centre, as well as green and play spaces.

Overview

Learn more about our exciting plans

About Us

Learn more about the project team

Timeline

The anticipated project milestones
Have Your Say

Community Hub

Clare House

Overview

About Us

Timeline

Feedback

Overview
About Us
Timeline
Newsletter
Have your Say
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Overview

Welcome

Welcome to our Community Hub to display an overview of our proposals to replace Clare House.

We are committed to consultation with residents and the local community; and appreciate you visiting our consultation website and sharing your views on our plans to deliver 100% of homes at social rent, alongside a new community centre, as well as green and play spaces.

The Site

Clare House, Hawthorn Avenue, Bow, has 129 flats over 22 floors.

Existing Plan of Clare House & Jasmine Park

Site Photographs 

History

Clare House was built in 1968 and was originally one of a group of three identical towers that previously formed part of the Monteith Road Estate (also known as the Old Ford Road Estate).

The other two blocks were demolished in 2002 as part of a regeneration masterplan that replaced the amenity lawns and parking areas between terraced houses with streets of terraces and small blocks of flats.

The new layout to Hawthorn Avenue and Sycamore Avenue offered front doors to the street and private secure gardens with little open space. The new layout contrasts with the 1960s estate layout of Armagh Road and Monteith Road which had multiple failings due to is design.

In 2005 the Borough granted permission for an extension to the ground floor of Clare House to provide a community room. Clare House is now vacant and is intended to be carefully demolished ahead of new homes being constructed.

Monteith Estate under Construction – 1967

Monteith Estate – 1988

Original Monteith Estate Plan

Monteith Estate under Construction – 1967

Clare House – 2018

Clare House – Construction Progresses

Original Clare House Typical Floor Plan – 1967

Why are we replacing Clare House?

In October 2021 Clarion made the difficult decision to rehouse all residents living in Clare House in Bow due to building safety concerns. This was unavoidable as soon as we became aware of these serious building safety concerns. These problems stem from the original 1960s design and construction. We are, therefore, seeking to replace the current building.

Input from former Clare House residents during engagement events in 2022 resulted in new build redevelopment as the preferred option. Residents’ feedback from workshops in 2024 has helped to shape the current proposals.

Current Proposals

145 New Social Rent Homes + Community Centre

Proposed Ground Floor Plan

7th-22nd Floor Plan

5th-6th Floor Plan

4th Floor Plan

2nd-3rd Floor Plan

Summary of Proposed New Homes & Community Centre 2nd-3rd Floor Plan

1 Bed Flats
0

27%

2 Bed Flats
0

22%

3 Bed Flats
0

36%

4 Bed Flats
0

15%

Social Rent Homes
0
sqm
Community Centre
0

A Range of Homes for Everyone

4B7P-A 109.5m²

Typical 4 Bedroom 7 Person Flat Plan

3B5P-C 93.1m²

Typical 3 Bedroom 5 Person Flat Plan

2B4P 74.0m²

Typical 2 Bedroom 4 Person Flat Plan

2B4P 74.0m²

Typical 3 Bedroom 5 Person Wheelchair User Flat Plan

1B2P 50.7m²

1 Bedroom 2 Person Flat Plan

Views over Victoria Park

Large and Flexible balconies

Natural Daylight as a priority

Bright and open ‘Family sized’ living spaces

New Sustainable Homes

  • Integrated, safe and secure cycle stores for 271 residents’ bicycles with a range of cycle racks, plus 6 short stay spaces for visitors
  • Integrated, safe and secure recycling and refuse stores
  • Secure parcel store for deliveries
  • All homes highly insulated for thermal and acoustic comfort to lower energy bills
  • All electric energy system fed by communal air source heat pumps and PV panels on roofs
  • All homes enjoy excellent daylight and sunlight with large balconies or terraces
  • Biodiverse green roofs
  • New native trees, hedges and biodiverse seasonal planting
  • 6 wheelchair accessible parking spaces on site plus a further 10 spaces along Hawthorn Avenue and Sycamore Avenue

Hawthorn Avenue will be lined by new homes. Looking south towards
Old Ford Road with upgraded Jasmine Park play area to the right

A range of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes are proposed (with 11% being wheelchair adaptable)

New Community Space

Indicative Community Centre weekly timetable

Inside new Community Centre

The new Community Centre will face onto a new landscape children’s play area on Sycamore Avenue

  • Lower 4-5 storey mansion blocks facing Hawthorn Avenue
  • 23 storey tall building replacing existing 22 storey Clare House
  • 145 new homes (16 more than existing)
  • Safe, secure and well-lit (designs reviewed by Metropolitan Police)
  • Facing brick to complement the local area
  • Carefully detailed windows and balconies

Landscape & Play Proposals

  • Children encouraged to explore, interact and play within nature
  • High quality residents’ amenity spaces with areas for seating, socialising and shaded by trees
  • Planting and lawns creates a soft biodiverse outlook for residents
  • New accessible play area for children 0-4 years of age proposed at Sycamore Avenue
  • Jasmine Park to be upgraded at Hawthorn Avenue with the design input of local children

A new welcoming communal entrance on Hawthorn Avenue

145 new homes at the redeveloped Clare House viewed from south-west

Landscape & Play Proposals

  • Children encouraged to explore, interact and play within nature
  • High quality residents’ amenity spaces with areas for seating, socialising and shaded by trees
  • Planting and lawns creates a soft biodiverse outlook for residents
  • New accessible play area for children 0-4 years of age proposed at Sycamore Avenue
  • Jasmine Park to be upgraded at Hawthorn Avenue with the design input of local children

New and upgraded play spaces for all ages and abilities

  1. Replacement of play equipment where required
  2. Replacement of rubber surfacing
  3. Refresh planting creating a higher quality space for people and nature
  4. Additional planting along neighbouring properties to buffer residents from public path
  5. Additional tree planting along the northern perimeter to create shade and privacy for adjacent residents
  6. Make better use of grass mound through planting and play equipment such as rope climbers
  7. Relocation of bench seating away from residential properties
  8. Retain 1.5m high metal fence around perimeter of play space

Jasmine Park play area will also be upgraded with input from local children

A new play area is proposed at Sycamore Avenue

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About Us

Clarion Housing is the UK’s largest housing association, owning and managing 125,000 homes: 360,000 people call a Clarion home their home.

HTA Design LLP is a multi-disciplinary design consultancy specialising in creating and regenerating residential environments. They focus on architecture, landscape design, urban planning, and sustainability to deliver innovative housing solutions and vibrant communities.

HTA have an established track record of working with local communities, Housing Associations and Local Authorities to design high quality affordable housing.

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Timeline

Initial Engagement 2022-24

What we have achieved to date

  • Issued Community Update notices
  • Appointed HTA Design as the Community Architect for Clare House
  • Appointed Consultant team to explore options for the future of Clare House
  • Worked with residents to agree a set of regeneration objectives, during the 2022 engagement sessions, that led to replacing the building being confirmed as the preferred development option
  • In May / June 2024 a webinar was held along with three in-person workshops where former residents and neighbours engaged with the proposals, and stated what they would like to see the new building deliver/provide (e.g. play space/community space).
  • In June / July 2024 we engaged with 18 local young people, including former residents of Clare House, to understand their aspirations for the future proposals and proposed play space.
  • Two in-person outdoor public exhibitions and a webinar in July 2024 where residents had the opportunity to give their feedback about the detailed plans.
  • Community Forum hosted by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on Wednesday 24th July at Eastside Youth Centre, Parnell Road.
Initial Engagement 2022-24
December 2024

Where we are now

  • Planning application submitted in October and being considered by LB Tower Hamlets.
  • Post planning submission public exhibition at Eastside Youth Centre giving everyone the opportunity to provide further feedback to help shape the detailed design of the proposals.
December 2024
Early 2025

What happens next…

Planning Committee – Early 2025
Demolition starts – Autumn 2025
Construction works – 2026-2028

Early 2025
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Have Your Say

Thank you for viewing our proposals for the new development. We appreciate you taking the time to visit our community hub and please do let us know if you have any questions or comments below.

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