Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com
in Housing and also in Local Government
Tuesday 11th August 2015 – 9:59am
Architects’ favourite ‘brutalist’ London council block faces demolition
Tower Hamlets Council has welcomed the government’s decision not to grant the controversial Robin Hood Gardens housing estate listed building status.
The estate, built in the late 1960s by the brutalist architects Alison and Peter Smithson, has been the focus of a campaign by leading architects including Richard Rogers in support of its preservation. Rogers believes Robin Hood Gardens is “the most important social housing development from the post-war era in Britain”.
But last week heritage minister Tracey Crouch ruled against giving the estate listed status by resissuing a certificate of immunity first granted in 2009 and which expired last year. The decision is currently the subject of a 28-day review period.
Explaining the reasons why Robin Hood Gardens doesn’t warrant listed status, Emily Gee, head of designation at Historic England, said: “Any of the Smithson’s buildings deserve to be considered for listing, and a number are already listed. We have therefore given much thought to Robin Hood Gardens.
“We assessed the complex for listing in 2008 and our advice was subject to detailed scrutiny and review. No new information has come to light that would cause us to revise our assessment, so we stand by our view that Robin Hood Gardens does not meet the very high threshold for listing.
“In recommending a building for listing, particularly one so recently built, we need to consider whether it stands up as one of the best examples of its type. We don’t think that Robin Hood Gardens does.
“It was not innovative in its design – by the time the building was completed in 1972 the ‘streets-in-the-air’ approach was at least 20 years old. The building has some interesting qualities, such as the landscape, but the architecture is bleak in many areas, particularly in communal spaces, and the status of Alison and Peter Smithson alone cannot override these drawbacks.
“The complex does not equal the architectural achievement of other 20th century estates which have been listed such as the Barbican and Brunswick Centre in London, and Park Hill in Sheffield.
“Listing is highly selective and decisions must be made objectively. While respecting the opinions of campaigners, after careful review of all the points received by the consultees, we recommended once again that Robin Hood Gardens does not make the grade.”
Tower Hamlets Council, which remains the landlord of Robin Hood Gardens, said it understood why many people are unhappy with the decision but said it was the right one.
A council spokesperson said: “We welcome the news of the decision by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism and Heritage, Tracey Crouch, to grant another certificate of immunity from listing for Robin Hood Gardens.
“We have carried out extensive consultation with our residents over the past few years over the future of the blocks, with the majority of residents supporting the council’s decision to redevelop the estate as part of the wider Blackwall Reach scheme.
“The scheme is already delivering benefits to the area. Existing residents have already moved into new homes on-site, an expanded mosque has been built and will open shortly and a larger school is already accepting more pupils.
“The council has been in contract with the Greater London Authority and Swan Housing Association since 2011 to deliver the regeneration.
“Since the decision to redevelop the area in 2008, community engagement by the council and its partners has never stopped: residents have been fully involved in designing and planning their new homes, including replacement homes for all existing estate tenants and resident home owners. The scheme has had outline planning approval since 2011.”