‘Nothing positive’: Residents hit out at canalside development over heritage concerns

Plans to build a housing development on Grove Road in Bow have been greeted with opposition by local residents.

The proposed canalside project, which is to include the conversion of an existing warehouse, is being put forward by H2O Urban, a joint venture between the Canal and River Trust and development company bloc. 

At a local consultation meeting, concerns were raised by residents about the impact of the proposed development on affordable housing, local businesses, boat residents, wildlife and heritage, among other issues.

Were it to be completed, the development is expected to contain 66 flats.

The developer’s website is coy as to how many of these will be affordable, saying only that this “will be discussed with the council’s planning team”.

A local group, Friends of Regent’s Canal, is worried about the impact of the proposed development on local heritage.

Ian Shacklock, Chair of Friends of Regent’s Canal, said: “I cannot think of anything positive to say about these proposals and we now await a formal planning application when we can coordinate our objections.”

The developers maintain that “the scheme will visually contribute to the character of the local area due to the premium design of its buildings”.