Gascoigne East Phase 2 redevelopment by Be First and White Arkitekter will offer 526 new homes, schools, a community centre and commercial spaces in London's East.

Phase 2 of the Gascoigne Estate East is part of the wider regeneration scheme for the Gascoigne Estate in Barking, one of London’s largest estate regeneration projects to date. With White Arkitekter, Civic Engineers designed the structural, civil and transport components for this major regeneration by BeFirst. Together, a cluster of deteriorating 1960s high-rise towers, low-rise blocks with poor community facilities will be transformed into a walkable neighbourhood; creating over 526 new homes, commercial space and a new community centre for the London borough.

Essential components of the proposed development were the creation of the new Gascoigne park, two landscaped courtyards within the block arrangement and a new street network to serve the buildings and improve connectivity to the surrounding area. These green spaces were specifically designed to link the biodiversity through planting schemes, provide nature-based drainage and create place-based spaces for the local children. Safety was carefully considered to provide a more secure route through the estate for local school pupils – particularly girls and women – to use.

SUDS measures have been integrated into the landscape and play features so that all stormwater on the site seeps naturally back into the ground. SUDS features on the buildings include green roofs — bringing ecological and water quality benefits; as well as significantly reducing strain on the sewer network. Surrounding the park, the architectural facades don’t require blank walls for the supply of bin refuse — those are stored underground to allow for all ground flood facades to remain as active as possible, giving the estate more activated facades and less visual clutter.

Transport engineers have worked closely with local authorities to design a low speed, safe and self-enforcing environment and the development is ‘car free’ allowing just the minimum parking provision for disabled residents.

Robert Westcott, Director, Civic Engineers said:

"The first time we visited the Gascoigne Estate in 2018, we were struck by the vast amount of surface car parking and small sad patches of grass discouraging any use with low railed fencing. Nobody was outside, enjoying the public realm, and it was highly confusing to even pass through. The contrast with the new development is total and it was superb to go back after the park had been completed to see so many young people outside enjoying it, framed by the impressive new apartment blocks."