The future of social housing?

Towards the end of the twentieth century, private developers entered the market to develop social housing in Tower Hamlets. Now common in the borough are mixed-use newbuild developments in which an agreed proportion of residences are sold to private owners as well as allocated for social renting, shared ownership and/or for ‘affordable housing’ for key workers. Some of these are architecturally significant and in future seem likely to be considered part of the borough’s built heritage.

The award-winning Donnybrook Quarter, Bow, shortlisted for the RIBA Building of the Year. A mixed use scheme consisting of living units as well as community, work and retail spaces, completed in 2006.

The Donnybrook Quarter, Bow. Photo: Peter Barber Architects