Glenkerry House
Encyclopedia
Glenkerry House is a housing block on the Brownfield Estate in Poplar, London
designed by the studio of the controversial Brutalist
architect Ernő Goldfinger
. 14 storeys high, it stands in proximity to and complements the appearance of Balfron Tower
and Carradale House, which were designed by Goldfinger himself and are now Grade II listed. There are four four-bedroom maisonettes on the ground floor, 17 one-bedroom, 45 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom flats; 78 flats in all.
Its design and construction have proved to be of better quality than many other post-war high-rise blocks.
Since 1979 it has been run as a shared ownership housing cooperative
. The co-op bought a 99-year lease from the Greater London Secondary Housing Association, partly funded by grants from the Housing Corporation
and the Greater London Council
, and raised about a third of the cost from sales to residents (members). The GLC also provided a loan for the remainder of the cost, the interest on which is covered by ground rent charged to residents.
The freehold is now owned by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
. Residents buy and sell the leaseholds of their homes from the council at half the valuation, as assessed by the District Valuer.
The building is managed by a committee of its residents, and research on housing co-ops in 1983 concluded that it was exceptionally well-run. Because this form of shared ownership does not allow the residents to increase their share and become full owner-occupier
s, the Conservative government of the day
did not give support to the model. Nevertheless, it is now widely regarded as a model for shared ownership co-operatives, as it provides equity stakes that allow members to benefit from gains in the housing market, while locking in the subsidy so that the homes remain affordable to new members.
Poplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
designed by the studio of the controversial Brutalist
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
architect Ernő Goldfinger
Erno Goldfinger
Ernő Goldfinger was a Hungarian-born Jewish architect and designer of furniture, and a key member of the architectural Modern Movement after he had moved to the United Kingdom.-Biography:Goldfinger was born in Budapest...
. 14 storeys high, it stands in proximity to and complements the appearance of Balfron Tower
Balfron Tower
Balfron Tower is a 27-storey housing block in Poplar, a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London, UK. It forms part of the Brownfield Estate, an area of social housing between Chrisp Street Market and the A12 northern approach to the Blackwall Tunnel...
and Carradale House, which were designed by Goldfinger himself and are now Grade II listed. There are four four-bedroom maisonettes on the ground floor, 17 one-bedroom, 45 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom flats; 78 flats in all.
Its design and construction have proved to be of better quality than many other post-war high-rise blocks.
Since 1979 it has been run as a shared ownership housing cooperative
Housing cooperative
A housing cooperative is a legal entity—usually a corporation—that owns real estate, consisting of one or more residential buildings. Each shareholder in the legal entity is granted the right to occupy one housing unit, sometimes subject to an occupancy agreement, which is similar to a lease. ...
. The co-op bought a 99-year lease from the Greater London Secondary Housing Association, partly funded by grants from the Housing Corporation
Housing Corporation
The Housing Corporation was the non-departmental public body that funded new affordable housing and regulated housing associations in England. It was established by the Housing Act 1964...
and the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
, and raised about a third of the cost from sales to residents (members). The GLC also provided a loan for the remainder of the cost, the interest on which is covered by ground rent charged to residents.
The freehold is now owned by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
. Residents buy and sell the leaseholds of their homes from the council at half the valuation, as assessed by the District Valuer.
The building is managed by a committee of its residents, and research on housing co-ops in 1983 concluded that it was exceptionally well-run. Because this form of shared ownership does not allow the residents to increase their share and become full owner-occupier
Owner-occupier
An owner-occupier is a person who lives in and owns the same home. It is a type of housing tenure. The home of the owner-occupier may be, for example, a house, apartment, condominium, or a housing cooperative...
s, the Conservative government of the day
Thatcher Ministry
Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom between 4 May 1979 and 28 November 1990, during which time she led a Conservative government. She was the first woman to hold that office...
did not give support to the model. Nevertheless, it is now widely regarded as a model for shared ownership co-operatives, as it provides equity stakes that allow members to benefit from gains in the housing market, while locking in the subsidy so that the homes remain affordable to new members.
External links
- Glenkerry House Official Website
- Glenkerry House at EmporisEmporisEmporis GmbH is a real estate data mining company with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. The company collects and publishes data and photographs of buildings worldwide....
.com