| Title: | William Street Quarter and Anne Mews, Barking, UK |
| Markets: | Residential |
| Client: | London Borough of Barking and Dagenham |
| Services: | Landscape architecture |
| Region: | United Kingdom |
| Status: | 2012 |
| Photography: | Rob Parrish and Timothy Soar |
William Street Quarter is the first privately funded affordable social housing scheme in the UK. The masterplan transforms the site previously occupied by the 1960s Lintons Estate in Barking into a significant new neighbourhood with considerable 'play‑able space'.
Originally built in the 1960s, the condition of the Lintons Estate had deteriorated and it was subsequently demolished to make way for a new high-quality community. AHMM and Maccreanor Lavington Architects led the masterplan for the new neighbourhood, which included a new business centre, community facilities and residential units.
The site’s key location — close to Barking Town Centre — presented considerable opportunities for a high quality and functional public realm that interfaces with surrounding streetscapes and activities in the town centre, defines key pedestrian connections and includes a significant central public amenity space along with innovative shared surface/homezones and communal courtyards for residents.
Gillespies assisted in delivering a high-quality urban landscape that would maximise opportunities for community interaction and informal play. This has been achieved by the creation of generous outdoor amenity spaces — private gardens, communal courtyards, play-able routes and a tree planting strategy.
Awards
- 2013 British Construction Industry: The Prime Minister’s Better Public Building: Shortlist
- 2013 Sunday Times / British Homes: Affordable Housing Development Award
- 2011 British Construction Industry Award: Regeneration
