Underwood Road public consultation

Find out more about our plans for 22-28 Underwood Road in Tower Hamlets at a public consultation event on Monday 7 November.   

At the consultation event you'll be able to: 

• View our plans to provide much needed homes for local people
• Learn more about our proposals to commemorate a neglected piece of local history
• Raise any questions you have with Peabody staff and architects

When

Monday 7 November
Drop-in any time between 3pm-7pm 

Where

Osmani Centre
Community Halle 2
58 Underwood Road, E1

An artist's representation of the new development 

Peabody plans to build around 33 homes on the site. The large majority will be for people on low incomes or for shared ownership. Some will also be available for sale and for market rent to ensure the scheme is financially viable. 

'We're committed to working with the local community'

Stephen Howlett, Peabody Chief Executive, said: 

"Peabody has long worked with communities in London to deliver sensitive, high quality affordable housing and regeneration activities. We are a charity whose aim throughout our 150-year history has been to relieve poverty in London.

"In line with this, we're committed to working with the local community to ensure we recognise and commemorate the history of this neglected site while also providing much needed affordable homes that will foster economic and social regeneration in Tower Hamlets.

"At our consultation event people will be able to learn more about our proposals and discuss them with Peabody staff and architects."
 
The existing buildings on 22-28 Underwood Road 
 
The existing buildings on the site were used as a Jewish maternity hospital in the early 20th century. They are in a dilapidated state and have not been occupied since 2005. Most recently, they were used as a primary school and social services office.

In a report carried out on the buildings, English Heritage noted the site’s historical interest but said that the buildings had “negligible” architectural significance. The buildings currently give no indication of the site's history.

We have explored a number of options that involve keeping the existing buildings. None of these options have proved feasible as they would limit both the number of the homes and the layout of any new residential development, which would prevent the scheme from being financially viable.

How we propose to commemorate the site's history

We're committed to recognising and commemorating this site's history and have proposed a number of measures to achieve this.

These measures include naming the new building appropriately, perhaps after one of the important figures in the site's history, applying for a commemorative blue plaque, and incorporating the history of the site into the design of the façade of the new building.

We have also instructed a historic building consultant to prepare a detailed Historic Building Recording of the existing building. This will be provided to the Tower Hamlets Archive and be made available to anyone who has an interest in the history of the building. 





 
 

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