Our Sustainable Future case study: Hale Wharf, Tottenham Hale

A place where industry, community, and nature come together

Hale Wharf, in Haringey, was historically a working community. It was home to industrial space which over time fell into disrepair as the jobs it once supported moved elsewhere.

An Island site, it was poorly connected. Rarely visited, public access was extremely limited, and the area felt unsafe. It was a wasted opportunity.

The regeneration of Hale Wharf and the creation of a new place was a unique opportunity to unlock this waterside location. It was a chance to reflect on its industrial past, curate a new community, and enhance nature.

Sitting within the Mayor of London’s Tottenham Housing Zone, it was also an opportunity to deliver against the priorities of the local authority by delivering new homes and new affordable homes.

Now complete, Hale Wharf has delivered 505 new homes, including 191 homes for Affordable Rent. It’s an important contribution to the Greater London Authority’s aspiration to deliver 2,000 homes in Haringey.

We have curated a multi-generational community including apartments and family homes. It ensures the community is vibrant, dynamic and sustainable.

Delivered by Waterside Places – our strategic joint venture with the Canal & River Trust – in partnership with the Mayor of London and the London Borough of Haringey, Hale Wharf has delivered much more than simply a place to live.

Reflecting industrial heritage, we used designs inspired by the factories and warehouses which would have characterised the area. Brick, zinc, galvanized balconies, and weathered steel helped maintain the local character.

Making the most of the waterside location, alongside the River Lea, we even improved access to the water to facilitate the industrial use of the waterway once again. Juxtaposed to the area’s industrial heritage, the Paddock Community Nature Reserve covers 10 acres of green space adjacent to Hale Wharf. It includes woodland, scrub, meadows, ponds, and rivers.

Places like The Paddock Nature Reserve deliver significant value for communities, and it is critical they are safe, well maintained, accessible, and valued. Prior to the regeneration of Hale Wharf, The Paddock had been in a state of disrepair.

We had an opportunity to re-invigorate and support this vital place for nature. We delivered new pedestrian bridges to connect the community at Hale Wharf to the Paddock. In doing so, we unlocked the opportunity for residents to spend time immersed in the natural environment.

It enabled further investment. Significant upgrades included the removal of Japanese Knotweed, enhancements to the woodland habitat and the provision of an educational facility and volunteer’s hub.

Thanks to these investments, and the ongoing work of the Conservation Volunteers, The Paddock is now a haven for birds, trees, flowers, and people.

Before the bridge opened, those attempting to access Tottenham Hale station on foot had to navigate Ferry Lane – a busy and poorly lit road.

With the bridge now providing a direct route, residents feel safer and have easier access to the excellent connectivity of the wider area. It’s all part of curating and supporting a new community at Hale Wharf.

The Canal & River Trust will support families make the most of the enhanced waterway by providing access to water-based activities such as canoeing and kayaking.

The Engine Room – which opened in 2017 – serves an ever-expanding multi-cultural community with a church, community centre, café, and nursery.

Working with the North London Hospice and Wild in Art, we have also brought the ‘Big Fun Art Adventure’ to Hale Wharf as part of a free art sculpture trail.

Hale Wharf is about much more than just homes. It is a place where industrial heritage, community, and nature come together.

In 2024, our project team:

-Donated money to pay for an after school PE teacher for a term this enabled pupils at the school to undertake sports activities after school, increasing their health & wellbeing

-Hosted 2 students for work experience.

-Employee volunteering at the nature reserve

-Supported North London Hospice and Wild in Art, giving a home to Flora the Owl