News

Green light for a new family emergency accommodation and health centre in east London

Acting on behalf of Havering Council’s Housing Services, Turley has helped to secure unanimous approval at planning committee for 74 new dwellings of family emergency accommodation and a new Health Centre in Harold Hill.

Forming part of the first phase of the council’s Harold Hill Town Centre Masterplan vision, we provided expert Planning services for the scheme which seeks to deliver 74 new self-contained dwellings of emergency accommodation for families in need and a c.1,500 sq m health centre. Designed by Hawkins\Brown Architects, the new part-four-storey building will replace an existing 40-room facility, vacant library, and former boxing club. It presents a unique opportunity to set a new standard for this type of (emergency) accommodation, demonstrating that Havering Council is at the forefront of responding to its temporary housing needs. 

The proposals were informed by detailed pre-application discussions with the local planning authority, its Quality Review Panel and strategic planning committee, alongside the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, which helped inform the overall design, layout, orientation and massing of the final scheme taking into account the surrounding suburban residential context. 

The principal design objectives were to provide a building which is safe, welcoming, inclusive, sustainable, family-focused and uplifting, whilst addressing the council’s need for temporary housing and significantly improving the conditions of its existing accommodation. The proposed building is arranged around a landscaped external courtyard providing amenity and play space for future residents.

28 July 2022

Image courtesy of Hawkins/Brown Architects