Ecstatic to have gained planning consent so soon into 2024, for our bold development of 5 sustainably designed homes on a disused Brownfield site of 33 derelict asbestos ridden garages, set on the banks of the River Ching in London E4.

This project symbolizes the work we do, changing how a brownfield site that is of no benefit to the surrounding residential neighbours can be brought forward with tenacity and collaboration for not only the site itself but the benefit of the wider occupants in this part of East London.

Constraints on a site can be seen as problematic, however with a positive approach from all, including the Environment Agency and the right team, we were able to change a contaminated site which is causing issues to the River Ching, into an urban oasis.

Developments carried out with design sensitivity and the right knowledge can change the land they are on, for the better. That is surely we can use the power of design to help our client developers see that change can be beneficial to them too. We need to change how we approach development full stop. This shows how.

Specifically designed to work with, rather than against, the River, the five 3-bedroom ‘upside down’ houses clad with pre-greyed Thermowood gives a ‘treehouse’ aesthetic.  They produce a C02 reduction of 69%.

Working in collaboration with the London Borough of Waltham Forest we went through a mini Planning Partnership Agreement. The development will clean up this part of the watercourse which is being contaminated by the current site, and will improve the management of surface water locally within this Flood Zone 3.

The proposal has been designed with a fabric first approach with Passive Haus principles and raised to deal with the 1 :1000 year storm.

This proposal is the latest project within Clear Architects ‘Small Homes Revolution’, proactively creating well-designed small developments on irregular sites which have existing infrastructure in place.  For other examples see Coach Yard and Finsbury Park Road.