Designs for Aintree Estate Development Approved
Go ahead given for replacement for Hartopp and Lannoy Points tower blocks
Visualisation of the new estate. Picture: Hammersmith and Fulham Council
A new estate will replace two tower blocks in Fulham that had to be demolished because the structure was unstable.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council will build 134 new homes at Aintree Estate on the site of the 1970s Hartopp and Lannoy Points tower blocks.
Serious structural issues were found in the council-owned, 14-storey towers between 2017 and 2018. A 2019 report by design experts Arup warned: “An accidental extreme event could lead to the collapse of a disproportionately large part of the building.”
A council fire assessment in 2019 also found “serious issues” with the towers and other issues, including dampness and leaks, were uncovered. It was decided it would be too expensive to fix the blocks, which each contained 56 flats, and that knocking them down was the best option.
The building was also found to be a fire risk in 2017 and fire wardens had to patrol the towers 24 hours a day.
The towers used the same ‘Large Panel System’ technique used in the Ronan Point disaster in 1969. Four people were killed and 17 people were injured in a gas explosion at the Canning Town block.
The Hartopp and Lannoy Points towers were destroyed in May 2021 after all the remaining residents left the building. There were 54 vacant homes at the time and 39 families chose to retain the right to return in the future.
Visualisation of the new estate. Picture: Hammersmith and Fulham Council
The new buildings on the site will be up to seven storeys in height and 84 per cent of the homes will be affordable. Ten per cent of the flats will also have disability access and 24 trees will be planted.
The new buildings at Aintree Estate were unanimously approved at Hammersmith and Fulham’s planning committee on 21 September.
The planning committee’s chair, councillor Omid Miri, said: “If any of the residents do return – no representations have been made so far- they will be returning to very high-quality brand new homes.”
Hannah Neary - Local Democracy Reporter
September 27, 2022