Housing New Developments and Special Projects

The City of London Corporation (City Corporation) will be undertaking surface refurbishment, replacement of waterproofing membrane, remedial works to drainage infrastructure, and landscaping works on the podium, covering the public realm in the vicinity of Ben Jonson House, Breton and Cromwell high walk. 

On the 27 June 2023 the City Corporation received planning and listed building consent for the second phase of public realm transformation and landscaping works on the Barbican Estate Podium. This significant milestone paves the way for an exciting landscaping scheme that will enhance the City Corporation's public realm.

Essential waterproofing and drainage refurbishment will be undertaken on the podium including to the public realm in the vicinity of Ben Jonson Place, Breton House and Cromwell High Walk.

Expansion of Soft Landscaping and Greening: Building upon the success of the award-winning Phase One in Beech Gardens, completed in 2015, the second phase will extend the soft landscape and introduce more green spaces. This initiative aims to create a green and restorative environment for visitors and residents alike. 

Addition of Children's Play Features and Adult Exercise Areas: The approved scheme incorporates new children's play features, providing a safe and engaging space for young ones to enjoy. It will also introduce the first public adult exercise facility in the City of London. This inclusive amenity will cater to people of all ages and abilities, fostering a sense of community and well-being. 

Biodiversity Enhancement: The project will contribute to the preservation and promotion of local biodiversity. Water management, microclimate enhancements, and biodiversity preservation will be prioritised to create a harmonious and environmentally conscious public space and create habitats that support a diverse range of flora and fauna. 

Climate Change Resilience: By adhering to the principals outlined in the City Corporation's Climate Action Strategy, the Barbican Podium scheme will create a more climate resilient urban landscape, supporting the achievement of Net Zero, building climate resilience and championing sustainable growth. 

Public Art: The scheme will incorporate public art installations, adding aesthetic value and fostering a vibrant cultural atmosphere. 

Wayfinding and Inclusive Destination City: A strategy to introduce improved wayfinding elements will enhance navigability, ensuring a seamless and inclusive experience for all visitors to the City of London. 

These exciting developments will be seamlessly integrated into the City Corporation's public realm, reinforcing its commitment to creating inviting and accessible spaces for everyone. 

Throughout the process, great care will be taken to honour and conserve the rich essence of the Barbican's heritage enabling enjoyment of the Barbican Estate for future generations. 

The City Corporation is excited to embark on this next phase of the Barbican Podium works, bringing its vision of an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable destination to life. 

Update: 

Since Planning and Listed Building Consent was granted in July 2023, detailed design work and surveys have been ongoing and will need completing before any works to the podium can take place. 

Our current indicative timeline is: 

• Procurement of main contractor - Summer 2024 - Early 2025. 
• Estimated start on site - Autumn 2025. 
• Estimated completion - End of 2027. 

The design will be compliant with the City Corporation's Climate Action Strategy and Bio-Diversity Plan with an increase to greening in the region of 75%.

The scheme will include new Public Artwork installations.  Future City are the appointed Artwork consultants on behalf of the City Corporation and an Artwork Steering Group has been set up. 

Regular meetings are taking place with the Barbican Renewal Projects team, to share information on both projects as they move forward. 

One of the planning conditions is to develop a Barbican-wide wayfinding strategy, in consultation with other stakeholders that may be adopted by future projects.  A consultation group of identified stakeholders has been set up and the first meeting has taken place. 

Further information can be found on the Barbican Podium Phase Two project website. You can email the team at Barbican Projects or Freephone 0800 772 0475. 

The construction of a school and 66 new social homes.  

The 66 units will consist of 35 one-bedroom flats, 26 two-bedroom flats and five three-bedroom flats.  

Final approval, allowing residents to move into the residential building, is delayed as the project team needs to undertake extra work to an area of brickwork on the western side, located behind the balconies. 

The team is currently discussing when and how to undertake this work and whether new residents can move in before or during the planned work. 

The project's contractor, ISG, is not currently on site but a security presence will be maintained. 

Security will continue to be present during normal working hours, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm.  Out-of-hours CCTV will remain active and monitored. 

We will keep you updated with the latest information and a schedule for the repairs once it has been confirmed. 

For general enquiries, please email the COLPAI Project Team or call 0800 772 0475

We would encourage everyone to opt in to the digital newsletter by visiting our project website or emailing the COLPAI Project Team to ensure we are able to stay in touch should physical distributions become unsustainable.

This scheme consisted of the conversion of part of the ground floor of Great Arthur House to provide two new residential units. There are limited opportunities to provide social housing by the City Corporation, especially level access accommodation such as this, within a Grade II listed building. This project has delivered a two bedroom fully adapted flat for an existing applicant on the City Corporation's waiting list with complex needs. The scheme also included a wheelchair accessible one bedroom flat.

The installation of fire suppression sprinklers inside the City Corporation's Tower blocks in Avondale Square Estate's West Point, Centre Point and East Point block, Middlesex Street Estate's Petticoat Tower and Golden Lane's Great Arthur House.

Following discussions with the London Fire Brigade and City Corporation's Fire Advisors, the scope has been upgraded to include the installation of fire alarm systems in Middlesex Street Estate's Petticoat Tower, Avondale Square Estate's West Point, Centre Point and East Point. Great Arthur House already has a fire alarm system.

Each flat's sprinkler heads and pipes will be independent from each other and having block-wide installation will enhance the overall building safety.

Avondale Point Blocks

The majority of communal install has finished, however there has been a noticeable delay in final fittings due to the landlord awaiting sign-off from Southwark Council Building Control.  During the course of the sprinkler system installation works, our contractors United Living have managed to gain access into over 95% of properties in the three blocks on the Points. 

Please contact PPCR if you have any questions relating to the Sprinklers Project.

Golden Lane Estate - Great Arthur House

Adjustment to Great Arthur House programme has been scheduled to merge the objectives of this project with the planned fire door and compartmentation project to create one fire safety package project. Further communications will be shared to households via letter within the coming weeks.  Please contact PPCR if you have any questions relating to the Sprinklers Project.

Middlesex Street - Petticoat Tower

Harmony Fire are currently carrying out the fire safety upgrade installations. 

Work progress so far:- 

• 17 flats have been fully completed with sprinklers and fire alarm works. 
• The UPS commissioning is completed.
• Pressure testing from the basement has been completed. 
• More bookings for flats to have full installations.
• Evac Panels are wired up. 

Harmony is planning to have a reduced presence on site to utilise their resources and time more efficiently. From now on Harmony will carry out block booking appointments only. 

When booking an appointment with Harmony, it will be essential that they can access your home for all three days required for the installation works.  This is to ensure the newly installed sprinkler system can be tested and commissioned. 

Please contact PPCR. if you have any questions relating to the Sprinklers project.  All information relating to the Retrofit Sprinklers, can be found on the PPCR-City Corporation website 

The proposal for the redevelopment of land at the City Corporation's Sydenham Hill Estate consists of two main areas. The first is the demolition and redevelopment of the existing Mais House site and the second is the development of the current Otto Close garages. In total the proposed development will provide 110 new homes for social rent on the Sydenham Hill Estate.

The historic pedestrian entrance and wall on Sydenham Hill, which pre-dates the current buildings, will be retained. The building is positioned to create a clear distinction between the public frontage and the more private communal gardens. Replacing the garages with family homes and improving the safety of the connection between Lammas Green to Kirkdale, completing the street. The proposal to Sydenham Hill will seek to re-establish the historic rhythm of buildings along the street. Providing a contextual response to the existing heritage.

The 11th Community Liaison Group (CLG)  was held on Thursday 12 September at 6.30pm. The CLG are established as a forum for residents and immediate neighbours of the Sydenham Hill Estate, City Corporation, local councillors, the contractor Lovells and design consultants to discuss all matters relating to the construction at Sydenham Hill. 

A schedule of works currently being carried out on site are :-

Mais House

Block A

• Brickwork to 2nd floor -4th floor
• Scaffold strike to colonnade area
• Delivery of lift parts and commencement of installation
• Commencement of installation of plumbing, lighting & electrics-ground floor. 
• Plastering and mist coating, 1st floor
• Ceiling grids and plastering, 2nd floor
• Brickwork and blockwork to roof

Block B

• Internal blockwork to ground floor
• Brickwork and internal walls, 1st floor
• screed to 2nd floor (weather dependant)
• Internal walls, 3rd floor
• External boarding and windows, 4th - 5th floor
• External metal frame, 6th floor
• Scaffolding installation to perimeter, 5th - 6th floor
• Roof blockwork (4th floor) and waterproofing (6th floor)

Block C

• Internal blockwork to ground floor
• Brickwork, ground, 1st and 2nd floor
• Mechanical & electrical testing and sign off, lower ground floor and ground floor
• High level services installation, 2nd floor
• Electrical first fix - 3rd floor

Otto Close

• Blockwork continues (delayed last week due to inclement weather) 
• Scaffold adaption to houses 5-8 for blockwork
• Joist installation to houses 8-11
• Structural steel installation to first floor

Noisy works

• Plant movement (excavators and dumpers) 

Deliveries 

• Muck removal lorries in and out of main gate.
• Concrete lorries in and out of the delivery gate.

General Site Working Hours:

• Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
• Saturday 8am to 1pm

For site emergencies, please contact Lovell on 020 8731 3800 (0800 030 4690 out of hours). 

You can sign up to receive the latest information on the Sydenham Hill Project. All other information on the development can be found on the Sydenham Hill Project website.  

For general enquires please contact the project team:

• Email: Sydenham Hill Project.
• Freepost: COMM COMM UK (no stamp required).
• Telephone: 0800 772 0475.

The proposal to develop 91 new net zero carbon homes, all for social rent at York Way Estate, alongside a new combined Community Centre and Estate Office, new waterproofing to the existing podium, new play spaces and extensive greening and landscaping across the whole site.

The scheme was approved unanimously by the London Borough of Islington planning committee on 17 July 2021.

On Friday 22 November a Topping Out ceremony was held at York Way Estate to celebrate the completion of the highest point of construction. 

Chair of Community & Children's Services - Helen Fentimen and Deputy Chair of Community & Children's Services - Steve Goodman, attended the ceremony with Member Mary Durcan and other representatives from the City of London Corporation.  Representatives from Islington Council, Councillor Darmaid Ward and Councillor Claire Zammit attended the ceremony alongside representatives from our contractor Higgins Partnership. 

The development of 91 new social rent homes will help meet the urgent demand for affordable housing. 

Site Progress

Block A - Swaledale House - Concrete frame complete.  Infill light gauge steel framing system in progress.  Window installation, internal blockwork, scaffold erection and main staircase handrail in progress. 

Block B - Herdwick house - Precast concrete balcony & columns in progress.  Infill light gauge steel framing system in progress.  Window installation, internal blockwork, scaffold erection and main staircase handrail in progress.  

Block C - Ryeland House - Precast concrete stairs installed from lower ground to second floor.  Third floor slab in progress.  Shear walls & verticals to level 2 complete.  Splash course brickwork complete. 

Block D - Abderdale House - Upper floors concrete slab complete.  Ground floor beam & block flooring complete.  Precast concrete stairs installed.  Infill light gauge steel framing system in progress.  Window installation and scaffold erection in progress. 

Noise, dust and vibration are constantly monitored across the site, to ensure levels do not exceed limitations.

If you have any concerns or questions about the development, please contact the Resident Liaison Team in-person Monday to Friday in the Resident Liaison Office and Respite Centre or email them at York Way-Higgins or call Ruzi Bibi on 07773 540 602.

Further information on the project can be found on the York Way Estate Construction website. You can email the York Way Construction team or Freephone 0800 772 0475.