South Quay Estate

and was completed in 1981. South Quay Estate includes the Burr Close, Nightingale House, and St Katherines Way developments.

History

Like many of the strategic important London Docks, St Katherine Docks were targeted by the Luftwaffe during World War II and suffered severe damage as a result. During the "Black Saturday" raid of 7 September, 1940 - officially the first day of the Blitz - the original warehouses that surrounded the Eastern Basin of the Dock were razed to the ground by German bombs. [The First Day of the Blitz: September 7, 1940, Professor Peter Stansky] [Over London: A Century of Change, Jason Hawkes, 2000] Following the war, when the Greater London Council embarked upon their regeneration of the area, this bomb-damaged area was selected as the site for a social housing development - South Quay Estate.

Like many social housing initiatives close to the City of London, the composition of tenants in South Quay Estate changed significantly during the 1980s and 1990s following the launch of the Right to Buy Scheme under the Thatcher Government. 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", the residents of South Quay Estate purchased the freehold for the Estate from the Tower Hamlets Borough Council. [ [http://south-quay.com/newsletter.aspx Newsletter of the South Quay Plaza Estates (Freehold) Ltd] ]

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. 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. [ [http://www.findaproperty.com/displaystory.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&storyid=8453 Article on Ex-council apartments from FindaProperty.com] ] [For example, [http://www.london-rental-properties.com/burrclose.html this property] is typical of the type available for rent within the Estate]

Architectural Style

that typified social housing in post-war Britain. They do now seem dated compared to the more modern City Quay development.

The Docks themselves have a largely peaceful and secluded character, as the perimeter buildings block most of the traffic noise from outside. 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. [ [http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/data/planning/data/general-advice/data/conservation-areas/data/character-apps/Tower%20of%20London.pdf Tower of London Conservation Area Appraisal] ]

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. [ [http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/data/planning/data/general-advice/data/conservation-areas/data/character-apps/Tower%20of%20London.pdf Tower of London Conservation Area Appraisal] ]

Location

South Quay Estate dominates the south eastern-corner of St Katherine Docks bounded by Thomas More Street, Burr Close, St Katherines Way and the privately-maintained Mews Street. The nearest stations are Tower Hill (District and Circle lines), and Wapping (East London line) each about 10–15 minutes' walk away. 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, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and historic Tooley Street. South Quay Estate is also served by London bus routes 15, 42, 78, 100 and RV1.

References

External links

* [http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ Tower Hamlets Borough Council]
* [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=london&jsv=107&ie=UTF8&ll=51.505751,-0.069287&spn=0.003259,0.013518&t=h&z=17 Ariel view of South Quay Estate (Google Maps)]

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