South Quay Estate

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South Quay Estate - Looking east across the St Katharine Docks Marina

South Quay Estate is a low-rise residential development in St Katharine Docks in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The Estate was built by the Greater London Council as social housing and was completed in 1981. South Quay Estate includes the Burr Close, Nightingale House, and St Katherines Way developments.

1 History
2 Architectural Style
3 Tower of London Conservation Area
4 Location
5 References
6 External Links
7 Gallery

[edit] History

Like many of the strategic important London Docks, St Katherine Docks were targeted by the Luftwaffe during World War II and suffered severe damage as a result. During the "Black Saturday" raid of 7 September 1940 - officially the first day of the Blitz - the original warehouses that surrounded the Eastern Basin of the Dock were razed to the ground by German bombs.^[1] ^[2] Following the war, when the Greater London Council embarked upon their regeneration of the area, this bomb-damaged area was selected as the site for a social housing development - South Quay Estate.

Like many social housing initiatives close to the City of London, the composition of tenants in South Quay Estate changed significantly during the 1980s and 1990s following the launch of the Right to Buy Scheme under the Thatcher Government. As a result, a significant proportion of the Estate's 300 apartment units were transferred into private hands during this period. This transformation from public to private housing was completed on 15 June 2007 when, through a process of enfranchisement, the residents of South Quay Estate purchased the freehold for the Estate from the Tower Hamlets Borough Council.^[3]

Although apartments in South Quay Estate have not seen the same level of property price inflation as the luxury apartments surrounding the rest of the Marina, they have benefited from their picturesque surroundings and central location. There is currently a healthy demand for rental properties in the Estate driven by city workers attracted by the proximity to the city, and selection of top restaurants, cafes and bars in the area.^[4] ^[5]

[edit] Architectural Style

Burr Close - eastern aspect

The buildings of the South Quay Estate are simple, modern, red brick buildings with one-, two- and three-bedroom flats, ranging from 4 to 8 storeys. They are mainly set back from the street and surrounded by mature trees and other planting. The buildings are separated by a number of communal courtyards and linked by a network of elevated walkways giving many of the apartments unique and varied aspects. The character of the buildings are largely in keeping with those surrounding the Docks and are in strong contrast to the high-rise, Brutalist architecture that typified social housing in post-war Britain.

The Docks themselves have a largely peaceful and secluded character, as the perimeter buildings block most of the traffic noise from outside. The combination of trees and water create a calming atmosphere and a connection to nature, while the mix of shops and other uses are successful in creating quiet activity. Many historic dockyard features, such as bridges and cranes, have been incorporated into structures surrounding the estate and echo the Docks' industrial heritage.^[6]

[edit] Tower of London Conservation Area

A Conservation Area is defined under the Civic Amenities Act 1967 as an "area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance." South Quay Estate is included in the Tower of London Conservation Area, that includes numerous Grade I, Grade II and Grade II* listed buildings.^[7]

[edit] Location

South Quay Estate dominates the south eastern-corner of St Katherine Docks bounded by Thomas More Street, Burr Close, St Katherines Way and the privately-maintained Mews Street. The nearest stations are Tower Hill (District and Circle lines), and Wapping (East London line) each about 10–15 minutes' walk away. The walk towards London Bridge or Tower Hill is extremely scenic, particularly at night, with views of many landmarks such as the new City Hall, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and historic Tooley Street. South Quay Estate is also served by London bus routes 15, 42, 78, 100 and RV1.