New estate to replace demolished towers in Fulham
By Jacob Phillips, Local Democracy Reporter
A new estate will replace two tower blocks that had to be demolished because the structure was unstable.
Hammersmith and Fulham council will build 134 new homes on the Aintree Estate where the 1970s Hartopp Point and Lannoy Point tower blocks once stood.
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.
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 injured in a gas explosion at the Canning Town block.
The Hartopp Point and Lannoy Point 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.
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 on the Aintree Estate were unanimously approved at Hammersmith and Fulham’s planning committee on September 21.
The planning committee’s chairman, 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.”
Picture top: CGI shots of the new Hammersmith and Fulham homes (Picture: Hammersmith and Fulham council)