Nine customisable houses, where the future buyers and tenants will be able to co-design the layout and fit-out, were granted planning permission last week in the London Borough of Newham.
The terraced homes are designed by Make Architects, following the 2013 “Custom Build in Custom House” contest run by Newham Borough Council. The competition aimed to increase the involvement of local communities in the design and construction process.
The practice subsequently developed a detailed design and has taken the project through planning.
As part of the innovative scheme, buyers and tenants in the mixed-tenure development will be able to customise their future homes, with control over the floorplan, number of rooms, and fixtures and fittings.
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The properties are being developed by housing association East Thames and have been funded through the Mayor’s “Build your own home – the London way” programme, with a low cost development loan of £1.9m.
The project will be tendered to contractors in due course.
Built on the site of several disused garages in Vandome Close, a five-minute walk from Custom House DLR station, the development will offer homes for affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale.
Deputy mayor of housing and land, Richard Blakeway, said: “This innovative scheme is delivering spacious, good quality homes tailored to the needs of buyers on a range of budgets.
“The GLA is particularly pleased to be helping to fund one of the largest and most important tests of residents ‘customising’ their own homes in London.
“The regeneration of the Vandome Close site will be a major boost to the wider community and is part of the wider work the mayor is supporting to double housebuilding, reduce the pressure on London’s housing market, and provide the homes hard working Londoners need.”
East Thames director of development, sales and asset management, Trevor Burns, added: “Mixing market sale, shared ownership and affordable rent customisation is an innovation for the housing sector and we’re excited to deliver this pioneering project with Make Architects and Newham Council. The project will provide people with the opportunity to design their ideal home.”
