Canning Town development gathers pace with £100 million scheme groundbreaking

Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, broke ground on a £100 million development at Fife Road, Canning Town today with Richard Cherry, Deputy Chairman of Countryside Properties and Neil McCall, Group Operation Director of Affinity Sutton and Peter Andrews, Chief Executive of The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC).

The landmark development forms part of the £3.7 billion Canning Town and Custom House regeneration the UK’s sixth largest regeneration scheme. The Fife Road component will deliver 649 new ‘Lifetime’ homes and the reconstruction of Keir Hardie Primary School at a cost of £7.3 million by 2018, 140 new homes will be delivered in the first phase of the award winning scheme by 2013 with more than 30 per cent affordable.

Plans for Canning Town & Custom House’s regeneration aims to deliver more and better new homes, improved and expanded town centres at Canning Town and Custom House and improved links and connections across the A13 and between the bus and rail station. It will also lead to better quality streets and investment in infrastructure, services and community facilities.

Sir Robin said:
“This development represents a crucial part of the borough’s physical and social regeneration. We want our residents to have the same opportunities and aspirations as people living elsewhere in the capital and this project will provide our residents with a living environment of which they can be proud.”

Richard Cherry of Countryside Properties said:
“We are delighted to be starting work on this redevelopment, which will offer much-needed new housing and a new Keir Hardie school in a high quality living environment. Together with our partners, Countryside Properties is at the forefront of the regeneration of Canning Town and is committed to developing homes and places that become part of the community. The qualities of this regeneration will be felt across East London and will help to advance the whole community for the future.”

LTGDC – east London’s dedicated urban development corporation – contributed £2 million in 2008 to bring about the demolition of existing tower blocks on site. This ensured the early delivery of affordable homes to rent and buy and eased the pressure on the wider Canning Town and Custom House re-housing programme.

Peter Andrews of LTGDC said:
“The start on site marks the achievement of yet another impressive delivery milestone for Canning Town and Custom House. There’s now an unstoppable momentum behind this scheme which is set to transform east London’s image and confidence as well as harnessing growth.”

Neil McCall, of Affinity Sutton said:
“As a business we are committed to building well-designed affordable new homes and maximising life chances for our residents. I started my housing career in Newham and it is very exciting to be returning and working, with our partners, on this exciting development which will breathe new life into Canning Town.”