We recently welcomed young apprentices, local councillors and community leaders  for a tour of our Manor Road Quarter neighbourhood in Canning Town.

The VIP visitors took a tour of the site and the affordable homes being created there and learned about the positive impact the project is already having in Newham.

The new neighbourhood is being delivered by our joint venture ECF , with the Greater London Authority’s Homes for Londoners’ team, the London Borough of Newham, and Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH).

ECF is our joint venture with the government’s housing and regeneration agency, Homes England, and Legal & General, one of the UK’s leading financial services groups and major global investor.

Joanne McCartney, Deputy Mayor for London for Children and Families and London Assembly Member for Enfield and Haringey; Rokhsana Fiaz, Mayor of Newham; and Umesh Desai, London Assembly Member and Newham Councillor, met with 15 of the apprentices at Manor Road Quarter.

These apprentices are learning about construction and starting their careers in the sector while working to create these new buildings in the heart of Canning Town.

A key driver of the work at Manor Road Quarter is to provide employment and skills opportunities in the Newham area. To date, 36 apprentices have been appointed by main contractor Morgan Sindall Construction and subcontractors, providing valuable opportunities for upskilling local people. In addition, 5 students are employed at Manor Road Quarter full time.

Nine percent of Manor Road Quarter’s 615 onsite operatives are from the local borough and the project has also created 352 job vacancies for people who were previously unemployed or were employed specifically for Manor Road Quarter, of which the vast majority were secured by Newham residents.

The dignitaries also toured one of the hundreds of affordable homes that are currently being built at Manor Road Quarter. Once complete, 804 new homes will be provided for the local area, 50% of which will be affordable, alongside family-friendly leisure and amenity space as well as a 2.9-acre park.

These modern, high-quality homes will help meet an increasing demand for housing in the Newham area, which is experiencing a growing population. The new neighbourhood at Manor Road is being built in a sustainable, community-focused manner that supports the health and wellbeing of its current and future residents.

Duncan Cumberland, residential director at ECF, said:

In July, the second of Manor Road Quarter’s three phases was granted planning consent and the planning application for the project’s third phase is due to be submitted to the London Borough of Newham in early 2024. Following its approval, the second phase is scheduled to start on site in Summer 2024.

The completed neighbourhood’s new 2.9 acre park will provide a stunning, wildlife friendly environment to spend time in for both residents and the wider community. The green space will also help promote active travel through new walking and cycle routes – creating a vibrant, inclusive, and connected community space.