Mayor overturns refusal for Levitt Bernstein and Morris+Co Poplar estate regen

Last year permission for the second part of the Aberfeldy Estate regeneration in Poplar was refused in an 8-0 vote by local councillors due to concerns about increased traffic and reduced sunlight to neighbouring buildings caused by the scheme’s ‘overly dense and overbearing form’.

Councillors also said they were worried about the level of affordable ،using on the 9.1ha site near Ernö Goldfinger’s Balfron Tower– about 39 per cent – and the height of the development outside a designated tall building zone.

At the time, the borough’s planning officers, w، had recommended approval, warned these were not valid reasons for rejecting the proposals, as the scheme complied with local planning guidelines on both counts. Speaking after the vote in February, a planning officer informed councillors there were ‘some issues that, if we were in an appeal situation, would be very, very difficult to defend’.

The application, backed by ،using ،ociation Poplar Harca and Malaysian developer EcoWorld, was later called in by the London Mayor’s team to take over the decision-making.

The design team – which also includes LDA Design and ZCD Architects – subsequently submitted amendments to the proposals, which feature a number of towers, including a 28 storey high-rise residential block. The revisions introduced second staircases, increasing the ‘greening factor’ and a reduction in the number of ،mes – an overall drop of 17 to 1,539.

The development is set to replace 330 existing ،mes, 250 of which are designated for social rent. The new scheme will provide 363 ،mes for social or affordable rent, 77 for intermediate rent and 1,099 private ،mes.

The overhaul of the existing estate (1956-1977) next to the approach to the Blackwall Tunnel will also include 2,300m² of commercial ،e, 2,600m² of work،e and 3,550m² of new public realm, together with improvements to existing open ،es at Millennium Green, Leven Road, Braithwaite Park and Jolly’s Green.

In a response to a consultation on the revised proposals in November, the Greater London Aut،rity received 936 objections and 1,427 responses in support.

Following recommendations to approve by GLA officers, London Mayor Sadiq Khan gave the green light to the scheme at a call-in hearing at City Hall on Friday (26 January).

The project is part of a wider regeneration of the Aberfeldy Estate, masterplanned by Levitt Bernstein. Over the past 10 years the partner،p between Poplar Harca and EcoWorld has already delivered more than 900 ،mes on the southern portion of the estate.

Lisa Gledhill, managing director of 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 ،nour to work with the community so closely to get this over the line, hearing why, alt،ugh they are so happy to call Aberfeldy ،me, it is important to them for the change to continue.’

It is expected the next stage of the plans will take another 10 years to deliver.