Orbit and Wates Residential celebrate completion of award-winning Erith Park development
Orbit and Wates Residential celebrated the completion of Erith Park development, in south east London, with a community party. Erith Park won a prestigious RICS award for best London Regeneration Project in 2016.
Over the course of six years, the development partners worked with the community and key stakeholders, including London Borough of Bexley, to transform the Larner Road estate into the new mixed tenure community of Erith Park. Seven dated tower blocks have been replaced with 587 new homes, as a mix of houses and mid-rise apartments.
The tenure-blind scheme, supported by grant funding from the GLA, comprises 80% affordable homes, a mix of affordable rent and shared ownership. In this area of low sales value, there is no subsidy to the scheme from the 20% homes for sale and they are included to ensure a mixed, aspirational and sustainable community.
To mark the completion of Erith Park, Orbit, Bexley Council and Wates Residential jointly hosted a community event on Saturday 14 September 2019.
Maggie McCann, Orbits director of regeneration and partnerships thanked partners and residents for their contributions to the new community. Building on the success of Erith Park, Orbit and Wates are now embarking on the regeneration of the neighbouring Arthur Street. Maggie invited Cllr Teresa ONeill OBE, Leader of the London Borough of Bexley, to join residents in unveiling the name of the new development.
The covering was enthusiastically removed to reveal the new name Park East! The £95 million project will deliver 280 new homes. As with Erith Park, 80 per cent will be for affordable rent and shared ownership.
The event was also a public celebration of the sculpture commissioned by Orbit to mark the entrance of Erith Park. Artist Howard Boycott, whose design was chosen from 41 submissions, was present to talk about his work and the stories behind it. The 3.5m brick sculpture reflects the sites history of Victorian brickmaking and incorporates decorative bricks made by residents. Hidden inside is the shape of a Stone Age tool, a reminder of the important Palaeolithic archaeology of the site.
Maggie McCann, Director of Regeneration and Partnerships, Orbit, said:
The event marked a momentous achievement for both the project team and community. We were able to celebrate the official completion of Erith Park after years of hard work, and also showcase our next venture, Park East.
Many of the Erith Park team will be bringing their experience to Park East and we are confident we can deliver yet another thriving community and leave a lasting impact in Erith.
Paul Nicholls, Managing Director, Wates Residential, said:
Our vision for Erith Park was to create delightful contemporary homes in a beautiful new neighbourhood. This event was where it finally all came together and we can confirm that, together, weve created a brilliant new community we can all be proud of.
