Redevelopment of Aberfeldy and Nairn Street Estates will create a pioneering, child-friendly neighbourhood with new public realm supporting better connectivity and active lifestyles.

Aberfeldy Village comprises the redevelopment of Aberfeldy and Nairn Street Estates in Tower Hamlets, East London and is a joint venture between EcoWorld London and Poplar HARCA. It will deliver 1,565 new homes (of which 38.9% is affordable housing), and 5,740 sqm of commercial space across a housing-led mixed-use masterplan.

This ambitious masterplan represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stitch together east and west Poplar and build on the success of the initial regeneration of the Aberfeldy Estate, and transform under-used, disconnected open space, into a chain of linked green spaces, which support the independent movement of children and young people, whilst creating new cycle routes and reducing the impact of cars.

High quality, mixed tenure new housing, new shops and workspace are fundamental components of the design, with new buildings across the masterplan are fused together via a series of public realm interventions, with the design approach having been heavily influenced by the vibrancy and character of the existing community.

The project has involved intensive, creative community engagement throughout with a youth focussed programme and resident steering groups, including co-design of a vibrant new high street and playable landscapes, with local residents. This included in-depth engagement with over 100 children and young people from local schools to create a manifesto for the masterplan, which genuinely shaped the design.
Led by Levitt Bernstein (Masterplanner and Architects) alongside a highly collaborative design team including LDA Design (Landscape Architects), ZCD Architects (Engagement and Child Friendly Design Expert), and Morris+Company (Phase A Architects), the project champions sustainability and community wellbeing. With overwhelming local support (93%) and a high turnout (91%) in the community ballot, Aberfeldy Village is poised to become a pioneering, inclusive neighbourhood, fostering health, prosperity, and community cohesion.

Jo McCafferty, Director, Levitt Bernstein (Masterplanner and Plot Architect) said:

“We are delighted to be working with such a collaborative design team, and importantly the local community on this ground-breaking masterplan, connecting Aberfeldy with the Nairn Street Estate and unlocking wider connections in the neighbourhood for the very first time. The design team have brought their deep understanding of the site and its people to the project, with a strong creative and collaborative spirit from the start, which has thoroughly enriched the masterplan and the design process.”

Andrew Harland, Director, LDA Design said:

“At the heart of the vision for the regeneration of Aberfeldy is a placemaking approach that puts people first, encourages active and healthy lifestyles with more green space, and strengthens economic vitality. It will be a truly sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood. It shows how a past generation of infrastructure can be rethought to reduce inequalities and improve air quality and provide well-functioning town centres.”