After the London riots of 2011 the local council drew up a plan to transform Tottenham.
The regeneration package known as “A Plan for Tottenham” was ambitious and key site Brook House was one of the first milestones in the 15-year programme.
When the plans were unveiled five years ago, £1 billion worth of funding had already been secured to improve housing and public spaces, attract enterprise and investment and build better transport links.
One of the flagship developments is Brook House, a four-block mixed use development providing 222 affordable homes and a new junior school on the site of a derelict rubber factory. The clients were local housing association Newlon Housing Trust with financial backing from Tottenham Hotspur FC, whose nearby stadium is also being redeveloped as part of the Plan.
With the largest of the blocks at Brook House rising 21-storeys in an area of low and mid-rise buildings, the site is a very visible representation of the transformation of the area.
The point of all the works taking place is to breathe new life into Tottenham, making it a sought-after place to live and work, and as a result the planners had very specific ideas on how the new buildings should look.
Brad Coker, Project Director for lead contractors Galliford Try Partnerships, explained: “The planners had firm ideas for the finish. The brick had to be a light colour that would brighten up the area, so the products were chosen around that specification. They also had to be cost-effective and provide the lifespan that we required.”
Three of the blocks at Brook House are finished in brick supplied by Taylor Maxwell. Planning officers had initially approved one.
From that point on the supply of bricks went smoothly. “The delivery was excellent. In a period where people were running out of bricks we didn’t have any issues at all,” reported Brad Coker. “The customer service that we received from Kevin at Taylor Maxwell, who looked after our account and was our main point of contact, was very helpful all the way through.”
Kevin Clark himself added: “There was a very strict delivery schedule which started in December 2013 through to October 2014 - and we never missed a delivery date.”
The project was completed on schedule and to the great satisfaction of both the clients and the planners. Spurs football stars Ledley King and Ryan Mason were special guests at ceremonies to open the new housing blocks and school respectively.
Brad Coker believes that the development is an important early step in the process of revitalising Tottenham. “It’s had a massive impact on the surrounding area, in an area of medium-sized development it has made a big difference.”
Kevin Clark agrees: “I visited the site before the project started, if you could have seen what was there prior to Galliford Try building Brook House you would appreciate what a difference it has made. The old rubber factory right on Tottenham High Road was a very dark and dreary site, but the new buildings have changed the environment of the area and really brightened it up. Now it’s nice and light, a real example of regeneration done well.”
