Families in Waltham Forest are one step closer to a new home, as 53 brand-new, high-quality social homes have been handed over to the council, at Hepworth Place. These spacious two- and three-bedroom homes, in the newly completed block, Lotus Point, are for social rent, prioritising residents on our housing register. The rest of the building offers shared ownership and affordable rent, making the entire block truly affordable for local people.
Hepworth Place is part of the wider Fellowship Square regeneration, delivered with our development partner Countryside Partnerships, part of Vistry, which will create 433 new high-quality homes for residents, alongside new jobs and further opportunities. Last year, the first residents moved into Medway and Honeycomb Court, which includes one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, a mix of private, shared ownership and affordable rent.
Councillor Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Housing and Regeneration for Waltham Forest, said: “Today, we’re thrilled that 53 more families in housing need can now move into a warm, high-quality home. We are tackling the housing crisis head-on, coming out as one of the top local authorities in England to build more high-quality affordable homes with our development partners in a challenging financial market we’re facing in the UK. This is just one more milestone in the Fellowship Square development, which is creating an exciting new neighbourhood in Walthamstow. More high-quality homes are on the way, and if you’ve visited recently, you’ll have seen our fantastic new Civic building being built. It will include a ground floor commercial space that will provide more opportunities for local jobs."
Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of Waltham Forest Council inspects a kitchen in one of the new homes.
Kevin Delve, Managing Director for Vistry East London, said: “Hepworth Place stands as a strong example of what genuine collaboration can achieve. In partnership with Waltham Forest Council, we have delivered high-quality, sustainable homes while transforming previously underused land into a thriving new neighbourhood. This milestone reflects our shared commitment to regeneration that supports environmental sustainability and enhances the quality of life for local residents.”
Last year, what was once a car park at the back of the Town Hall, has been transformed into the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden and Sensory Garden, which provides peaceful spaces for reflection for everyone to enjoy.
The development also hosts Henry Moore’s iconic sculpture The Arch for the next few years giving residents and visitors a chance to enjoy world-class art in a public setting. To tackle the Climate Emergency as part of the development, a new Sustainable Urban Drainage Wetlands has been created which mitigates flooding across the site and simultaneously increases biodiversity, creating new habitats for wildlife.
New, accessible paths have also opened, providing improved pedestrian and cycle routes across the site for residents and visitors, as well as a new drinking water fountain. Soon, a new play space at Hepworth Place for residents and new nursery providing services for local families will open.
The Queen Elizabeth II Garden and The Sensory Garden
