Residential Property: Gascoigne Estate
In the heart of East London, the Gascoigne Estate regeneration project, a collaborative effort led by White Arkitekter and Be First, is making waves as a model of sustainable and inclusive housing design. The initiative, recognised for its ambition to deliver a landmark sustainable and inclusive estate, has earned a nomination for the 2025 Housing Design Awards.
The project, spanning over 9,500 sqft, boasts a wealth of shared amenities, including a cinema, games area, rooftop lounge, and external terrace, all aimed at fostering community engagement and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
The regeneration targets BREEAM Excellent certification, a leading sustainability standard that underscores energy efficiency, environmental performance, and occupant health and well-being. The project aims to address local housing needs with modern, sustainable homes, transforming the former Gascoigne estate into new affordable housing, such as the Weavers Quarter.
The local council, Barking and Dagenham, plays a crucial role, leveraging its land, planning powers, and access to low-cost borrowing to support this regeneration. The vision is one of sustainable mixed-use development that balances economic viability and social aspiration.
The wider strategy connected to this project includes intensifying employment floorspace and attracting growth sector businesses, supporting economic sustainability alongside housing regeneration.
West Phase 2, the completed project, introduces five new apartment blocks, ranging from nine to 20 storeys high. The estate's design emphasises social sustainability, with features like active frontages, well-overlooked streets, and the strategic placement of mews and courtyards.
Swedish firm White Arkitekter has completed 386 new homes as part of the Gascoigne Estate regeneration. The development includes rows of three-storey townhouses constructed using timber frames and brick cladding, as well as five towers with inset and protruding balconies, clad in concrete and brick.
The project's landscaping strategy includes the retention of mature trees, the introduction of rain gardens, and tree buffers along street edges. Sharon Hosegood Associates is responsible for the arboriculture of the project.
The development also incorporates photovoltaic panels on roofs to generate renewable energy for the estate. A district heating system, fed by water-source heat pumps from the nearby River Roding, supplies 69% of the homes' heating needs.
Linda Thiel, partner at White Arkitekter, stated that the project aims to improve housing availability and shift the focus from estate to neighbourhood. Tim Porter, delivery director at Be First, mentioned that the completion of West Phase 2 is a significant milestone for Be First.
The project's credits list includes various consultants, contractors, and employers, such as Aecom, Wates Residential, and Calford Seaden. PBA and Stantec are involved in the transport aspects of the project.
The development, developed by Be First, aims to reimagine Barking as one of London's most affordable, green, and sustainable neighbourhoods, with a focus on placemaking, affordability, sustainability, and community impact. The Gascoigne Estate project is a comprehensive regeneration initiative embedding high sustainability standards, community amenities, affordable housing, and economic development to create a resilient and inclusive neighbourhood in East London.
- The Gascoigne Estate regeneration project, led by White Arkitekter and Be First, is a comprehensive initiative that aims to reimagine Barking as one of London's most affordable, green, and sustainable neighborhoods.
- The project's landscaping strategy includes the retention of mature trees, the introduction of rain gardens, and tree buffers along street edges, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable living and environmental performance.
- The development vision balances economic viability and social aspiration, appealing to investors interested in financing sustainable real-estate projects that prioritize lifestyle, culture, and home-and-garden sustainability.
- The Gascoigne Estate project, with its focus on placemaking, sustainability, affordability, and community impact, is a model of sustainable and inclusive housing design, earning a nomination for the 2025 Housing Design Awards.
