14 October 2021
Summary: Innovative, market-leading development partnership, The English Cities Fund (ECF), working in close partnership with the Mayor’s Homes for Londoners team, have signed a landmark agreement with Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH) to bring forward a major new 804-home scheme, which will deliver 402 (50%) affordable homes to benefit the Newham community.
The Manor Road Quarter in the heart of Canning Town secured unanimous planning consent in 2019 from London Borough of Newham’s strategic development committee and phase one making up 355 homes (with 177 affordable) is anticipated to start on site imminently, with Muse sister company, Morgan Sindall Construction appointed as the scheme’s contractor.
These affordable homes will be owned, managed and administered by MTVH, one of the UK’s largest housing associations. MTVH provides affordable homes, and care and support services across London, the South East, East Midlands and East of England
Alongside these genuinely affordable homes will be flexible commercial space provided at ground-floor level. However, the jewel in the scheme’s crown will be a two-acre linear park that will create stunning new walking and cycle routes through the scheme to promote wellbeing and active travel to deliver a vibrant, inclusive and connected place.
ECF is a strategic joint venture between the UK’s best town and city-centre regenerator, Muse Developments, Homes England and Legal & General.
Elizabeth Wright, senior development manager at ECF, said: “Securing this deal with Metropolitan Thames Valley is a defining moment for all involved with the scheme and we’re proud to be moving closer to starting on site and bringing the vision for this scheme to life.
“Everyone deserves to live in a great place. A place that promotes health and well-being, sustainability and that brings people together. We’re delighted to be continuing our work repurposing key areas in the town in partnership, providing high-quality affordable homes, creating spaces and places that deliver direct benefits to the Newham community.
“Manor Road Quarter represents the next chapter in ECF’s involvement in Canning Town, following on from Rathbone Market, which has been widely recognised as the catalyst for further investment in the area.”
Geeta Nanda OBE, chief executive of MTVH said: “We are delighted to be working alongside ECF in making a real difference to the Newham community. The Manor Road scheme is an important development for the local area. The addition of so many high-quality affordable homes will bring new
opportunity to so many people. However, regeneration is also about ensuring that the local environment enhances the lives of everyone in the community. That is why we are delighted that the scheme will also include commercial facilities and green spaces which will boost wellbeing and quality of life in Newham as a whole.”
Tom Copley, deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said: “I am pleased to see the progress ECF and Metropolitan Thames Valley are making on the Manor Road Quarter development. This project will deliver 402 of the genuinely affordable homes Londoners so desperately need as well as commercial space and a new park to benefit the wider local community.
My team and I look forward to continuing to work with ECF and their partners to bring the scheme to completion.” Manor Road Quarter follows on from the successful £180m, three-phase Rathbone Market development the fund has delivered in Canning Town.