A development onsite in London’s Tower Hamlets creates a new neighbourhood on where Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst first proposed improvements to conditions in the East End, over a century ago. Roseanne Field reports.
In Bromley-By-Bow in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, a new development has brought more than just new homes to the community. The joint venture between Muse and housing association Poplar HARCA has rescued a derelict site and created an entirely new neighbourhood, which has been designed by architects RM_A and is being constructed by McAleer & Rushe.
The Stroudley Walk scheme sits on a relatively dense urban site that had previously been earmarked for redevelopment, and as part of that process existing buildings had been vacated, and left empty. Despite receiving approval, the plans were ultimately undeliverable, leaving the site half empty and lacking in activity, which in turn led to neglect and abuse.
In 2018 Muse, in collaboration with the East London-based “housing and regeneration community association,” began working on a concept to regenerate the site, which had become “disjointed and disconnected,” says the developer.
A focus on community
With the previous attempt at developing the site having fallen flat, and the consequential dilapidation of the area, it was more important than ever that the team’s plans were robust and viable. They therefore held conversations with local residents, businesses and the wider community to get feedback on potential proposals and what locals wanted – and needed – from a new development.
Before designs were finalised, over 500 people gave feedback and helped influence the final proposals that the architects put forward for planning. With the site located adjacent to some of London’s most deprived communities, it was imperative to the project team that locals views were not just heard, but actively taken into consideration.
The site has a intriguing history, linked to change and progress – a concept that was harnessed by the developers, who say it “ran deep throughout the duration of the project.” Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst – daughter of Emmeline Pankhurst – delivered her first speech in 1913 at the site, as part of a campaign to improve conditions for women living in the East End. The site was also visited by Mahatma Ghandi in the same year when he visited England to discuss constitutional reform in India with British politicians.
Honouring the work of the suffrage movement, the team harnessed the heritage in order to involve local children in the project. The team worked in partnership with arts charity Bow Arts
and a local primary school, who visited the site before creating placards on topics they were passionate about, with a focus on empowerment and standing up for their beliefs. These messages
were included as part of a mural handpainted on a passage used by pupils to access the school, helping increase the sense of community and ownership for locals – a theme that was central to the entire development.
Following the community consultation, a planning application was submitted in 2020 which took full consideration of not only the needs but also the wish list of the local community. Approval was granted the following year, and work began properly onsite in 2023. While some buildings on the site were retained and rejuvenated, others were demolished to make way for the new buildings. In October 2025, Muse handed the first of the homes over to Poplar HARCA, with the remainder of the project due for completion in early 2026.
The new homes
The final development comprises 274 new homes, of which 33 are shared ownership and 82 are for affordable rent, managed by Poplar HARCA. The homes range in size from studios up to four bedrooms, with all the three and four bedroom homes available at London affordable rent – an essential component in the project’s strategy to prioritise local families. The scheme also includes three new shops, a cafe and community kitchen, and a variety of outdoor spaces including a play park, a ‘pocket park,’ and various other part-pedestrianised public amenity spaces.
Ten of the homes are fully accessible, with two of these designed to be autism-friendly. It’s the first time the housing association has provided such a range of accessible homes. Features include enclosed staircases, secure kitchens and sensor taps integrated to enhance safety and independence, reducing the need for constant supervision.
As well as consulting with residents and locals during the planning stages, Poplar HARCA also worked closely with the Bow Bridge Estate Resident Group which represents residents living at Stroudley Walk during construction. Regular email newsletter updates were also compiled by McAleer & Rushe, including on the build’s progress, what works were due to take place next, and what impact it would have on residents.
The team also worked closely with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London Borough of Tower Hamlets on the project. As well as contributing to the GLA’s housing delivery targets, Muse believes the project demonstrates what public and private sector collaboration can achieve in terms of urban regeneration.
Design for everyone
The scheme’s architects undertook a detailed urban analysis to identify exactly what sort of configuration would work best for the area. Ultimately, they concluded that the site lent itself to one tall building to mark the neighbourhood centre, so the plans included a 25 storey tower. This is surrounded by various lower buildings, in a composition of forms which, say the architects, “mend the streets,” together with the improvements made generally to the public realm.
The tall building was intentionally placed along the new Stroudely Walk north-south route, so its narrowest elevations are viewed from the neighbouring Bow Road and Devons Road. The mass has been split into two elements, with a deeply recessed central core. RM_A opted for a brick facade, chosen so the tall building would establish itself within the varied surrounding townscape. The bottom level ‘plinth’ of the building was expressly designed to “address the street” and thereby provide an “active frontage.”
The upper levels of the tower have been visually split and grouped into either three or four storeys in order to ‘break down’ the building’s scale. A raised opening sits at the very top of the tower, serving not only as a visual feature with details such as recessed facades and brick piers, but also a roof top amenity space for residents.
Elsewhere on the site, some buildings were retained but architecturally improved with upgraded facades. One such example is Fairlie Court, where the upgraded facade ties it into the new buildings.
Family homes include a series of ground floor duplexes with their own private gardens at the south of the site. This has created a new residential street, while the community kitchen and cafe, pocket park and play area were deliberately located at the heart of the project to encourage a renewed sense of community and ownership of the area.
The orientation of each building was carefully considered to maximise the amount of daylight at street level and within the pocket park, as well as ensuring all apartments will benefit from direct sunlight at some point during the day.
The design was so well received that the scheme was shortlisted in the ‘Best design for four storeys or more’ category at the Housebuilder Awards 2022.
Futureproofed
Collectively the Stroudley Walk team wanted to ensure the future of the scheme was secure. In an area that had been neglected, this meant focusing on creating a space that would be cared
for and looked after, and that residents would be proud of.
The consultation process involved dedicated events held by the project team within the community, as well as presentations of the plans to the local primary school to get the opinion of the children, including those who will grow up in the development. The team also engaged with locals online, spoke with people in the street and talked to the area’s elected representatives.
What they learned from this was that, predominantly, residents didn’t feel safe. However, while many feared local crime, there was also an overwhelming sense that the area could be improved, and residents were strongly in favour of regeneration.
Poplar HARCA’s local ties mean there was a close relationship between the project team and local businesses, residents and community groups. Specifically, they wanted new public spaces and greenery, community facilities, improved lighting and visibility and critically, affordable housing.
To boost the green spaces, as well as the inclusion of the pocket park, 33 new trees were planted throughout the development. Not only do these help improve the biodiversity net gain (BNG)
of the site, they have helped improve the air quality and keep the streets cooler during the summer. Alongside the rooftop gardens on top of the apartment buildings, the green spaces also help residents feel better connected to nature.
As well as working with St Agnes Primary School on the empowerment-inspired mural, throughout the construction phases Muse and McAleer & Rushe delivered a variety of workshops and work placements for local students. Involving local children in the development and construction of the scheme is just one way the team have ensured Stroudley Walk is no longer a locale that sparks fears of crime among residents, but rather a place local families will have pride in.