Mile End Terrace Historic Buildings Restoration
Introduction:
Many historic buildings along the High Street 2012 route have fallen into a state of disrepair, lost their architectural features and have often undergone unsympathetic modernisations. As a key High Street 2012 ‘street action’, clusters of especially important historic buildings in strategic Conservation Areas have been targeted for improvements.
The terrace of 20 Grade II-listed properties comprising 82 to 124 Mile End Road, west of Stepney Green Station and opposite ‘Mile End Waste’, will benefit from the significant conservation repairs and improvements delivered as part of the historic buildings conservation scheme.
This restoration will complement the public realm improvements to Mile End Waste’s green space, the improved lighting and footways, along with the completed redevelopment of the former Wickham’s department store, all adding up to make a significant impact on the look of the area.
The works have been funded by Tower Hamlets Council, English Heritage, and Design for London (GLA).
Work began in October 2010 and completed at the end of November 2011.
The challenge
The buildings were suffering from a lack of maintenance and the team appointed to restore the Mile End cluster – Julian Harrap Architects and Paye Stonework & Restoration Ltd – worked to address the numerous issues affecting the buildings, such as:
- damp problems
- crumbling pointing
- eroded brickwork
- loss of architectural features
- loss of original timber sash windows and shop fronts
What's Been Done:
Following negotiations with building owners and tenants, works began to 18 prominent buildings in the Stepney Green Conservation Area in October 2010 and these have been completed as of November 2011.
Works concentrated on the front elevations and parts of the building that face the high street. The work being carried out tackled the issues through extensive conservation repairs, removal of unauthorised additions, replacement of features and new windows and new timber shop-fronts.
The new shop fronts and colours for signage have been put together collaboratively with the architects, design consultancy Objectif, and shop owners in accordance with the Conservation Area guidance and the sensitivities of listed buildings.
The work continues the standard set by the completed historic buildings at Aldgate and will promote benefits of conservation repairs more widely to local shop-keepers.
Beyond the improvements to the buildings themselves, the historic Mile End Road streetscape will be greatly enhanced for local people, shoppers and visitors alike.
Past Events
No past events.
