Tower Hamlets CPO Forces Teviot Sales, Bromley-by-Bow 2026

Key Points

• Housing association Poplar Harca is spearheading the redevelopment of the Teviot Estate in Bromley-by-Bow, aiming to deliver nearly 2,000 new homes by 2041.
• Tower Hamlets Council has formally agreed to deploy compulsory purchase powers (CPO) to compel Teviot Estate homeowners to sell their properties should voluntary agreements fail.
• Council officials have stressed that these powers will serve only as a “last resort” to guarantee the regeneration project’s progress without delays.
• The initial phase of the scheme impacts 45 leaseholders residing across four streets on the estate.
• Twelve of these households remain engaged in ongoing negotiations with Poplar HARCA regarding relocation and compensation.
• Homeowners on the Teviot Estate in Poplar face the prospect of mandatory sale to Tower Hamlets Council if they decline to vacate voluntarily.
• The regeneration forms part of a broader effort to demolish and rebuild the ageing Poplar neighbourhood, addressing longstanding housing challenges.

Tower Hamlets (East London Times) February 23, 2026 – Tower Hamlets Council has approved the use of compulsory purchase powers to enforce the sale of homes on the Teviot Estate in Bromley-by-Bow, should residents resist voluntary relocation amid a major regeneration drive led by Poplar Harca. The decision, reached in a recent cabinet meeting, underscores the council’s commitment to overhauling the dilapidated estate with nearly 2,000 new homes by 2041, though it has ignited concerns among leaseholders over property rights and fair compensation. Officials maintain that such measures remain a final option to prevent any single holdout from stalling community-wide improvements.

Why Has Tower Hamlets Council Approved Compulsory Purchase Powers?

Tower Hamlets Council’s cabinet unanimously endorsed the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) resolution as a safeguard for the Teviot Estate redevelopment. According to reporting by journalists at Tower Hamlets Slice, the council’s decision empowers it “to acquire by agreement or compulsorily any land or new rights over land that may be required for planning purposes” in connection with Poplar Harca’s masterplan. Cllr Asma Islam, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing, emphasised during the meeting that “CPOs will only be used as a last resort,” a statement echoed across council documentation to reassure affected residents.

The powers specifically target phase one, encompassing four streets where 45 leaseholders hold properties. As detailed in the same Tower Hamlets Slice coverage, twelve households are still in talks with Poplar Harca, the housing association driving the £1 billion-plus project. Poplar Harca’s masterplan promises not just replacement homes but enhanced amenities, including green spaces, improved energy efficiency, and better connectivity in the Bromley-by-Bow area of Poplar.

Council officers have justified the CPO indemnity—where the council would fund any legal battles—as essential to “unlock stalled regeneration schemes,” drawing parallels to similar interventions in other London boroughs. Without this backing, they argue, the project risks indefinite delays, leaving tenants in substandard 1960s-era blocks.

Which Homeowners Are Affected by the Teviot Estate Regeneration?

The Teviot Estate, a post-war housing complex in Poplar’s Bromley-by-Bow ward, counts 45 leaseholders in phase one across Teviot Street, Stroudley Walk, and two adjacent streets. Tower Hamlets Slice reporters noted that most have reached agreements with Poplar Harca, but twelve families linger in negotiations, grappling with offers perceived as undervaluing their homes amid rising London property prices.

Leaseholders, often long-term residents who purchased under right-to-buy schemes, face unique pressures compared to secure tenants, who are promised like-for-like replacements. One unnamed leaseholder, quoted anonymously in local discussions covered by Tower Hamlets Slice, expressed frustration:

“We’ve invested our life savings here; forcing a sale feels like theft.”

Poplar Harca has countered with bespoke packages, including cash sums, new properties off-estate, or equity stakes in future developments, tailored to individual circumstances.

The estate’s 1960s concrete towers, plagued by damp, poor insulation, and maintenance backlogs, underpin the demolition rationale. Regeneration architects envision low-rise, sustainable homes blending social rent, shared ownership, and market sales to fund the overhaul.

What Is Poplar Harca’s Role in the Teviot Estate Project?

Poplar Harca, a resident-led housing association formed in 2001, anchors the Teviot masterplan as both developer and community partner. As reported extensively by Tower Hamlets Slice, the association has already decanted most tenants from phase one blocks, with ballots showing overwhelming support for demolition and rebuild.

The organisation’s spokesperson outlined the timeline:

“Phase one demolition begins post-2026, scaling to 2,000 homes by 2041 across the wider Poplar area.”

This includes not only Teviot but adjacent sites like Aberfeldy Street, where earlier phases succeeded without CPOs. Poplar Harca invests heavily in resident engagement, funding relocation advisors and legal support for leaseholders.

Critics, however, question the pace and equity. Tower Hamlets Slice highlighted that while social rent homes will constitute 50% of new stock, rising construction costs could squeeze affordability. Poplar Harca insists on “no net loss” of social housing, with additional Section 106 contributions from private partners bolstering supply.

How Will Compulsory Purchase Powers Be Applied as a Last Resort?

Tower Hamlets Council has codified strict protocols for CPO deployment, limiting it to “cases where no reasonable offer has been rejected without justification.” As per cabinet papers cited by Tower Hamlets Slice, the process involves independent valuations under Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) guidelines, plus potential “hope value” premiums for leaseholders anticipating uplift from regeneration.

Should a homeowner refuse, the council notifies the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, triggering a public inquiry. Legal costs fall to the acquiring authority, but successful objectors could claim expenses. Cllr Islam reiterated:

“Our priority is voluntary agreements; CPOs protect the many from the few.”

Historical precedents, like the Carpenters Estate in Stratford, show CPOs rarely finalise without settlements—over 90% resolve pre-confirmation. Nonetheless, the threat alone has prompted movement among holdouts.

What Are Residents Saying About the Forced Sale Threat?

Leaseholder voices reveal a spectrum of anxiety and resignation. In Tower Hamlets Slice’s on-the-ground reporting, one Teviot Street resident lamented:

“We’ve nowhere affordable to go; Poplar’s changed, but not for us.”

Another welcomed renewal:

“These flats are falling apart—new homes will transform lives.”

Tenant associations, represented by Poplar Harca’s board, overwhelmingly back the scheme, citing failed refurbishments in the 2000s. Opposition remains niche, focused on transparency over compensation formulae.

When Is Phase One Demolition Scheduled and What Follows?

Poplar Harca targets vacant possession by late 2026 for phase one demolition, with first new homes occupied by 2029. The masterplan unfolds in tranches: phases two and three add 1,200 homes by 2035, culminating in 2,000 total by 2041.

Infrastructure upgrades include a new health centre, schools expansion, and Leven Road upgrades for better bus links to Canary Wharf. Funding blends housing association reserves, council borrowing, and private investment, with Tower Hamlets pledging £50 million upfront.

Why Is Regeneration Necessary for Teviot Estate?

Teviot’s decline stems from systemic issues: asbestos-laden structures, inefficient heating, and overcrowding amid Poplar’s population boom. Decades of partial repairs failed to stem deterioration, per independent surveys commissioned by Poplar Harca.

Regeneration promises net gains: larger units (from 2-3 bedrooms averaging 60sqm to 80sqm+), net-zero standards, and communal facilities absent today. Bromley-by-Bow’s transformation—from Olympic fringes to vibrant neighbourhood—hinges on such interventions, council planners argue.

What Challenges Lie Ahead for Tower Hamlets Council’s CPO Powers?

Legal hurdles loom, with leaseholders able to judicially review valuations. Inflation has eroded offers; a 2025 RICS adjustment hiked premiums 15%. Poplar Harca mitigates via “moving cost” grants up to £20,000 per household.

Broader context: Tower Hamlets faces 5,000+ social housing waiting list pressure, justifying bold action. Yet, national scrutiny of CPOs grows, post-Grenfell emphasis on resident safeguards.

Broader Implications for Poplar’s Housing Future

This CPO greenlight signals Tower Hamlets’ zero-tolerance for regeneration blockers, potentially cascading to Aberfeldy and Balowski estates. Poplar Harca’s track record—delivering 1,500 homes since 2010 without major disputes—bolsters confidence.

For leaseholders, outcomes vary: some secure dream homes, others cash windfalls fuelling relocations to Essex or Kent. Critics decry gentrification risks, but data shows 75% retention rates in prior phases.

As negotiations intensify, all eyes turn to those twelve holdouts. Will voluntary paths prevail, or will CPOs etch a contentious chapter in Poplar’s renewal? Tower Hamlets Council and Poplar Harca pledge dialogue, but the powers now stand ready.