A Tower Hamlets family welcomed the borough’s mayor into their new council home in Limehouse to show him round during the official opening.
Chris Braithwaite House was completed a few weeks ago, and the Ahmad family have been settling in, having previously lived in an overcrowded flat in Shadwell.
Kawsar Ahmad and his family played host to some VIP guests for the building’s official opening by Mayor Lutfur Rahman, who in turn welcomed them to their new home.
With him for the occasion were Councillor Kabir Ahmed, cabinet member for regeneration, inclusive development and housebuilding; Steve Halsey, chief executive of Tower Hamlets Council; Rob Bradley, chief executive, and David Fallows, operation director, both of lead contractor Bouygues UK; and Hillary Howie, head of repairs at Tower Hamlets Homes.
Ahmad said the family’s new home was a “nice property”.
“We didn’t view before accepting and it has more than met our expectations,” he added. “It’s nice living by the water and the views are very good. We have more space, enough so we can live more comfortably. Before we had just two bedrooms and were very overcrowded. It was difficult for my children to study, but now they have the space to do so.”
Mayor Rahman said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet Mr Ahmad and his family and for him to show me around his new home. I was impressed with the quality, the natural light in the rooms, and the views are fantastic.
“Building new homes and helping overcrowded families in Tower Hamlets is our mission. We have made a strong commitment to delivering 4,000 new social homes in four years, and together with our partners, are focused on achieving this target to help the people of this borough have decent, affordable homes.”
Chris Braithwaite House is the fourth new-build “affordable” housing development that Bouygues UK has delivered for Tower Hamlets council. The previous three sites on Jubilee Street and Baroness Road are themselves complete and occupied. All told, the company has delivered 94 homes.
This latest development ranges from five to eight storeys, and consists of 17 one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom flats for social rent.
Work started on site in October 2020 and involved improvements to the wider Locksley Estate, including a new children’s play area, improved lighting, and new trees and planting.
Councillor Kabir Ahmed, said: “Chris Braithwaite House is one of a number of new homes that this council is building, which will be completed and ready for residents to move in this year.
“We know there is a serious problem of overcrowding in the borough, and are working hard to tackle this by building new homes and, where we can, adapting existing homes to make better use of the space.”
Rob Bradley, Bouygues UK’s chief executive, added: “It was fantastic to join Mayor Lutfur Rahman and our partners from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to officially open these newly completed, high-quality homes, and hear first-hand the positive impact on the residents.”
Main image: Mayor Luftur Rahman (centre) next to host Kawsar Ahmad (centre right), with visiting guests and family members.
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