The Space of Community in Post-war Council Estates

This text was read on 30 March 2019 at the Design Museum, London, as part of a series of workshops and talks titled Growing Common Land organised by Hester Buck, one of four Designers in Residence at the museum during 2018. What London’s Estate Regeneration programme has revealed to all but the most inattentive observer or … Continue reading The Space of Community in Post-war Council Estates

Housing is Not a Human Right: Housing Campaigns Before the Law

My title refers to the famous fragment taken from Franz Kafka’s novel The Trial and published separately in 1915 as Before the Law. For those not familiar with the parable, a man from the country seeks admittance to the law. At the entrance to the law stands a guard, who refuses his request but offers … Continue reading Housing is Not a Human Right: Housing Campaigns Before the Law

Public Subsidies for Private Profit: The Colville Estate Regeneration

The two towers of Hoxton Press are the third phase in the regeneration of Hackney’s Colville estate. Completed last year on the estate’s prime location directly opposite Shoreditch Park, they have received numerous awards and garnered rave reviews. ‘A model for estate redevelopment’, claimed the Architects’ Journal. ‘Some of the best council housing ever built’, … Continue reading Public Subsidies for Private Profit: The Colville Estate Regeneration

Saving Northwold Estate: The Design Alternatives to Demolition

The Northwold estate in Hackney has around 580 homes. Built in the 1930s, it was extended in the 1950s, and in 2009 the estate stock-transferred to the Guinness Partnership housing association. In 2016 Guinness announced it was going to regenerate the estate, and subsequently planned to demolish and redevelop half the estate. In September 2016 residents … Continue reading Saving Northwold Estate: The Design Alternatives to Demolition

What is Community-led Housing? Proposal for a Co-operative Housing Development

Brixton Gardens, architectural rendering by Leonie Weber What is ‘community-led housing’? The phrase is used these days with increasing frequency, but what does it mean? How can it embrace the resource and advice hub set up by the London Mayor to build more affordable housing, and which has just been allocated £38 million of funds, and, … Continue reading What is Community-led Housing? Proposal for a Co-operative Housing Development

The Business of Homelessness: My Container UK Ltd

https://vimeo.com/289728568 On 30 August 2017 Martin McGrail and Stacy Reed incorporated My Container UK Ltd, which lists its business on the Companies House website as the ‘Construction of commercial buildings’, and for which they are both Directors: McGrail the Managing Director, Reed the Operations Director. The following year, on 4 June 2018, they incorporated Gorilla Holdings … Continue reading The Business of Homelessness: My Container UK Ltd

Policy SD10: Social and Racial Cleansing in the Draft New London Plan

A. Boroughs should: Identify Strategic Areas for Regeneration (see figure 2.19) in Local Plans based on a thorough understanding of the demographics of communities and their needs Seek to identify Local Areas for Regeneration taking into account local circumstances. B. Development Plans, Opportunity Area Planning Frameworks and development proposals should contribute to regeneration by tackling … Continue reading Policy SD10: Social and Racial Cleansing in the Draft New London Plan

The Carpenters Estate: A Fresh Start or Business as Usual at Newham Council?

On the 27 October 2018, at a meeting between members of the Focus E15 Campaign and Rokhsana Fiaz, the Mayor of Newham, and members of her new administration, it was agreed that Architects for Social Housing would make a presentation to Newham council on the financial, social and environmental benefits of estate refurbishment and infill … Continue reading The Carpenters Estate: A Fresh Start or Business as Usual at Newham Council?