Giant step for London EnerPHit tower block
Newham Council's James Riley Point retrofit is set to be London's largest EnerPHit project to date. The project, that has just started on site, involves the refurbishment of a 1960s tower block on the Carpenters Estate to the EnerPHit standard to create 136 apartments.
Newham Council is undertaking a 12-year estate regeneration scheme of the Carpenters Estate in Stratford. Phase 1 of the regeneration sees the retrofit of the 23-storeyJames Riley Point tower block to the EnerPHit standard. James Riley Point is one of three landmark modernist towers on the Carpenters Estate, which residents were keen to see retained in the Masterplan, resulting in plans for two to be refurbished.
PHT Patron ECD Architects is Architect and Passivhaus Designer on the scheme, alongside PHT member Introba which is undertaking M&E Design for the project. .
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It is so exciting for both ourselves and residents to see the start of development works on the Carpenters Estate, kicking off with our innovative tower retrofit. The plans for James Riley Point are a reflection of Newham’s attitude towards ‘better’ regeneration, that delivers for existing communities while providing additional homes in Newham. Nick Clough, Carpenters Project Director, Poplo Living |
Retention of the existing building will significantly reduce embodied carbon in comparison to rebuilding and redevelopment, whilst achieving the Passivhaus EnerPHit Standard will reduce the building’s operational carbon by limiting the heat and energy demand. This is in line with Newham’s Just Transition Plan, with its focus on reducing emissions and building long-term environmental resilience for the benefit of residents. Right to return residents have the option of moving into the building on intermediate rent, while the remaining homes will be social rent, making the majority of the homes genuinely affordable to Newham residents.
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Residents living on the estate and those with a right to return overwhelming endorsed the outline masterplan when it went to ballot. The start on James Riley Point’s retrofit scheme is proof that change can be delivered sustainably, as we build new homes that our people can afford, with new community facilities. Through this retrofit scheme we are also making a difference in response to the climate emergency as part of our Just Transition agenda, now and for the future. Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Mayor of Newham |
Construction
As part of the plans, the existing balconies will be internalised to increase living space inside homes, improving the building form factor, and helping minimise thermal bridging. New external policy-compliant balconies will be added, outside the thermal envelope, to provide additional improved amenity space. The scheme also creates four additional new properties in the tower, bringing the number of apartments to 136, made up of 1-3 bed homes.
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This project shows how ambitious retrofit can transform a tower block into high-quality, low-carbon homes while preserving community and history. It’s a powerful example of design and sustainability working hand in hand. Gary Alston, Director, ECD Architects |
Hot water and heating demand for the apartments will be supplied by ASHP (air source heat pumps) and solar PV panels. External shading will be employed as a summer comfort strategy. An external vertical grid of aluminium fins will provide shading to the glazing while maintaining desired daylight levels in apartments. New high-performance fabric will add acoustic as well as thermal insulation between homes.
The project's fabric-first approach means the proposal will far exceed the London Plan’s CO2 saving target of a 35% reduction. An estimated regulated CO2 savings on site of 66.1% for residential use and 64.1% for the non-residential use of the development, against a Part L 2013 compliant ‘gas boiler baseline’ scheme (for new build elements) and a ‘refurbishment baseline’ (for refurbished areas) with SAP10 carbon factors.
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We're excited to see a large-scale social housing scheme targeting the EnerPHit standard underway in London and congratulate Newham Council and the project team for their vision and commitment.
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Next year, the Passivhaus Trust will be delivering more retrofit training, meanwhile, find a host of retrofit resources on the Passivhaus Learning hub, including a Passivhaus retrofit masterclass.
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Further information
Previous PHT Story: Towering EnerPHit kicks off mammoth estate regeneration. - 2 July 2024
Previous PHT story: The London Plan & Passivhaus – 1 March 2025
Previous PHT story: Certification for Newham's first Passivhaus scheme – 1 February 2025
Previous PHT Story: London housing projects loom large - 15 December 2022
Previous PHT Story: 400+ Passivhaus push for Newham Council Housing - 9 June 2022
Previous PHT Story: Green light for 65 Passivhaus homes in Newham - 3 August 2021
Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, said: “The start on site of works at James Riley Point on Carpenters Estate is hugely significant and represents another milestone in the delivery of homes that our people can afford here in Newham. Our Carpenters Estate restoration and regeneration scheme is amongst the largest in the UK and is significant as it shows how Newham is growing London. The 28 acre estate site owned by the Council will be transformed into a new neighbourhood by the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs at Stratford. I’m so pleased that finally, after waiting for change to begin, residents will see positive change happening.
Residents living on the estate and those with a right to return overwhelming endorsed the outline masterplan when it went to ballot. The start on James Riley Point’s retrofit scheme is proof that change can be delivered sustainably, as we build new homes that our people can afford, with new community facilities. Through this retrofit scheme we are also making a difference in response to the climate emergency as part of our Just Transition agenda, now and for the future.”
2nd September 2025
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