Tower Hamlets Approves 53 Social Rent Homes at Albert Jacob House

Key Points

• Tower Hamlets Council has officially approved plans to demolish Albert Jacob House, a former council office in Bethnal Green East, for a new development featuring 53 social rent homes.
• The project will include five commercial units for local businesses at ground level.
• The scheme is part of a larger council initiative to deliver 4,000 new social homes for rent across the borough.
• Plans were approved by the council’s Development Committee at a meeting on Thursday, 26 June 2025.
• The development has been designed by acclaimed architecture practice Child Graddon Lewis.
• Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman emphasised the urgent need for social housing in Tower Hamlets due to severe overcrowding and lengthy waiting lists.
• More than 29,000 residents are currently on the Tower Hamlets Housing Register.
• The project emphasises community consultation, public space enhancement, and accessible design.
• Approval is subject to particular planning obligations and conditions.

Plans to transform a former Tower Hamlets council office site into 53 much-needed social rent homes received final approval Thursday, marking a major step in the borough’s ambitious affordable housing strategy.

Why is the Albert Jacob House redevelopment significant for Tower Hamlets’ housing crisis?

As reported by the Tower Hamlets Council News Team, the borough’s Development Committee has given the go-ahead for a major affordable housing scheme that will see the demolition of the now-vacant Albert Jacob House on Roman Road, Bethnal Green East. The new proposal will deliver 53 social rent homes within a five to nine-storey building, with additional commercial space for local businesses at ground level.

“Tower Hamlets is the fastest growing and most densely populated place in the UK, and as such, housing is a huge issue. More than 29,000 residents are on the Housing Register with many people living in overcrowded or unsuitable homes,”

noted Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman, as quoted by the Tower Hamlets Council.

What is included in the new housing scheme and who designed it?

The housing development – designed by Child Graddon Lewis, a Royal Institute of British Architects award-winning firm – aims to blend seamlessly with the neighbourhood’s existing urban grain. The project integrates landscaped amenity and play spaces between Albert Jacob House and Godley VC House, creating

“a public space that is tranquil, safe, and welcoming for all,”

said Christopher Gilligan, Associate at Child Graddon Lewis, in a statement given to the Tower Hamlets Council News Team:

“The project has been a real collaborative success, with both the client and project team all striving to deliver essential affordable, sustainable, and joyful homes. … The landscaping successfully weaves itself into the existing urban grain, really transforming the quality of the public realm for the benefit of new and existing neighbouring residents.” 

How does this project fit into Tower Hamlets’ broader home-building goals?

According to coverage by Tower Hamlets Council and as highlighted in the committee’s documents, the Albert Jacob House scheme is a critical element of the council’s pledge to deliver 4,000 new social homes for rent, reaffirming the borough’s leadership among London authorities struggling to address acute housing pressures.

“We are determined to meet the urgent demand for social housing in Tower Hamlets, with far too many families currently living in overcrowded or unsuitable conditions. This is an important project that will provide 53 much-needed social rent homes for our residents,”

stated Mayor Rahman in an official statement published on the council’s website.

What has been the impact of community engagement on the project’s development?

As documented by (Tower Hamlets Council News and Albert Jacob House – Proposed Development), the design process has involved multiple rounds of non-statutory community consultations at locations such as Bethnal Green Library and Tramshed Community Hub throughout 2024. These consultations helped shape the approach to landscaping, public realm improvements, and the inclusion of commercial units to support the local economy.

What are the planning conditions and next steps for the Albert Jacob House site?

The council’s approval is conditional on various planning obligations, which are not fully detailed in public releases but typically include requirements surrounding sustainability, accessibility, and affordable let levels. The current timeline anticipates demolition works to commence in early 2025, subject to the completion of all statutory processes and site preparations.

Tower Hamlets Council also announced that all planning applications and documents related to the Albert Jacob House proposals, including reference PA/24/02227, are available for public viewing on the council’s planning portal.

How does this compare to other recent social rent schemes in the borough?

In a parallel development, as highlighted by Tower Hamlets Council’s June news release, a separate scheme in Bow is delivering 62 new council homes (100% affordable: split between social rent and Tower Hamlets Living Rent) and is on track for completion by early 2026. Both projects form part of a landmark effort to address waiting lists of over 29,000 households, many of whom experience overcrowded or unsuitable accommodation.

What has been said by council officials and design partners about the project’s importance?

• As per Tower Hamlets Council:
• “We are determined to meet the urgent demand for social housing… [Albert Jacob House] is an important project that will provide 53 much-needed social rent homes for our residents.” – Executive Mayor Lutfur Rahman
• Child Graddon Lewis, architecture practice: “The proposed building and its landscaping successfully weave themselves into the existing urban grain, really transforming the quality of the public realm experienced at street level for the benefit of new and existing neighbouring residents.” – Christopher Gilligan

What’s the outlook for affordable housing in Tower Hamlets?

While housing affordability remains a London-wide challenge, council leaders argue that Tower Hamlets’ home-building drive stands out.

“At a time when many councils are struggling to build new council homes, and many families are being pushed out… Tower Hamlets is leading the way in providing safe, sustainable council housing,”

said Jonathan Jerram, Joint Managing Director of Jerram Falkus Construction, on a related Bow development.

The council’s approach—proactively redeveloping its own brownfield sites, designing with community input, and integrating commercial activity—offers a replicable model for other boroughs seeking to address urban housing shortages at scale.