South Quay Estate
Encyclopedia
St Katharine Docks
St Katharine Docks, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, were one of the commercial docks serving London, on the north side of the river Thames just east of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge...
in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
. The Estate was built by the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
as a form of social housing
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
, with the first residents moving in between 1979 and 1981. South Quay Estate includes the Burr Close, Nightingale House, St Anthony's Close and St Katharines Way developments.
History
Like many of the strategic important London DocksLondon Docks
The London Docks were one of several sets of docks in the historic Port of London. They were constructed in Wapping downstream from the City of London between 1799 and 1815, at a cost exceeding £5½ million. Traditionally ships had docked at wharves on the River Thames, but by this time, more...
, St Katharine Docks
St Katharine Docks
St Katharine Docks, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, were one of the commercial docks serving London, on the north side of the river Thames just east of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge...
were targeted by the German Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and suffered severe damage as a result. During the "Black Saturday" raid of 7 September 1940 - officially the first day of the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
- the original warehouses that surrounded the Eastern Basin of the Dock were razed to the ground by German bombs. Following the war, when the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
(GLC) embarked upon their regeneration of the area, this bomb-damaged area was selected as the site for a social housing
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
development - South Quay Estate.
The GLC (at the time Conservative run) established the development on what was called a 'higher rent' basis. This made it almost unique and meant those applying to be the first residents had to meet certain criteria found in nearly no other type of local authority housing. These included no children, no animals, employment either within the borough of Tower Hamlets or the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
and proof of income. A chief aim appeared to be to provide a place where young City workers on lower pay could afford to live close to where they worked - presumably to resolve a specific shortage identified by City employers and politicians. The first group of residents therefore contained a particularly high proportion of what might generally be known as 'young professionals', although it also included many middle-aged and older individuals or couples.
The GLC initially blocked the launch of the Right to Buy Scheme
Right to buy scheme
The Right to buy scheme is a policy in the United Kingdom which gives tenants of council housing the right to buy the home they are living in. Currently, there is also a right to acquire for the tenants of housing associations...
under the Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
Government in South Quay, although this changed around the demise of the GLC and ownership passing to Tower Hamlets Borough Council. With Right to Buy, like many social housing initiatives close to the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, the composition of tenants in South Quay Estate therefore changed significantly during the 1980s and 1990s. As a result, a significant proportion of the Estate's 300 apartment units were transferred into private hands during this period. This transformation from public to private housing was completed on 15 June 2007 when, through a process of enfranchisement, a group of about 200 South Quay Estate property owners purchased the freehold for the Estate from the Tower Hamlets Borough Council for £930,750.00.
Although apartments in South Quay Estate have not seen the same level of property price inflation as the luxury apartments surrounding the rest of the Marina, they have benefited from their picturesque surroundings and central location. A significant number of properties are now rented out, both mid/long-term on a residential basis and short-term for tourists and holidaymakers. There is currently a healthy demand for rental properties in the Estate driven by city workers attracted by the proximity to the city, and selection of top restaurants, cafes and bars in the area..
Architectural Style and Layout
International style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
architectural period, the use of brick is in strong contrast to the concrete of high-rise, Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
that typified social housing in post-war Britain, coupled with a wood-cladding effect popular in the late '60s and '70s. This also contrasts with the circles, triangles and pale colours of the post-modernist style that came to the fore from the 1980s onwards and so now seem dated compared to most later Docklands developments - such as the adjacent City Quay development of the 1990s.
Most buildings are mainly set back from the street, surrounded or separated by mature trees and other planting around the Cloysters Green and Maudlins Green spaces, as well as communal courtyards linked by a network of elevated walkways. The Docks themselves have a largely peaceful and secluded character, blocking most of the traffic noise from the busy East Smithfield artery to the north. Other roads are minor and subject to significant traffic calming, with Burr Close being split into 2 service-only cul-de-sacs and Mews Street controlled by security barriers at both ends. The combination of trees and water create a calming atmosphere and a connection to nature, while the mix of shops and other uses are successful in creating quiet activity. Many historic dockyard features, such as bridges and cranes, have been incorporated into structures surrounding the estate and echo the Docks' industrial heritage.
Tower of London Conservation Area
A Conservation Area is defined under the Civic Amenities Act 1967 as an "area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance". South Quay Estate is included in the Tower of London Conservation Area, that includes numerous Grade I, Grade II and Grade II* listed buildings.Location
South Quay Estate dominates the south eastern-corner of St Katharine Docks bounded by Thomas More Street, Burr Close, St Katharines Way and the privately-maintained Mews Street. The nearest stations are Tower HillTower Hill tube station
Tower Hill is a London Underground station at Tower Hill in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.The station is in Travelcard Zone 1 and near the Tower of London...
(District
District Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
and Circle lines), Tower Gateway on the DLR
Docklands Light Railway
The Docklands Light Railway is an automated light metro or light rail system opened on 31 August 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London...
and Wapping
Wapping tube station
Wapping railway station is on the northern bank of the river Thames in Wapping, East London, England. It is in Zone 2, and on the East London Line of London Overground between and ....
(East London line
East London Line
The East London Line is a London Overground line which runs north to south through the East End, Docklands and South areas of London.Built in 1869 by the East London Railway Company, which reused the Thames Tunnel, originally intended for horse-drawn carriages, the line became part of the London...
), as well as Fenchurch Street station mainline terminal, each about 10–15 minutes' walk away. South Quay Estate is also served by London bus routes 15
London Buses route 15
London Buses route 15 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The regular service on route 15 is currently contracted to Stagecoach London and operated with modern double-decker buses...
, 42
London Buses route 42
London Buses route 42 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
, 78, 100 and RV1
London Buses route RV1
London Buses route RV1 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Prior to its launch, the service was promoted as Riverside Bus, and was intended to open up the south bank of riverside London, connecting visitor attractions such as the Tower of London, the Tate Modern, the...
. The walk towards London Bridge or Tower Hill is extremely scenic, particularly at night, with views of many landmarks such as the new City Hall
City Hall (London)
City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority which comprises the Mayor of London and London Assembly. It is located in Southwark, on the south bank of the River Thames near Tower Bridge...
, the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name...
, and historic Tooley Street
Tooley Street
Tooley Street is a road in South London connecting London Bridge to St Saviour's Dock; it runs past Tower Bridge on the Southwark side of the River Thames, and forms part of the A200 road. - St Olave :...
.