- Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE officially opens Noele Gordon House in East Ham
- Noele Gordon House is an affordable later living scheme, developed by the Council’s wholly owned development company, Populo Living
- The building is part of the Council’s housing strategy, offering support to older or more vulnerable adults, freeing up larger family homes elsewhere in the borough
Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, officially opened Noele Gordon House in East Ham today (4 April), marking a significant milestone in the Council’s commitment to providing affordable, high-quality later-living housing for its residents.
The new development, delivered by the Council’s wholly-owned housing company, Populo Living, offers 75 modern, energy-efficient homes designed to support older and more vulnerable adults, helping to free up larger family homes in the borough that they may have found challenging to look after.
Mayor Fiaz was delighted to meet the first residents moving into Noele Gordon House, listening to their stories and learning about the positive impact of the scheme, she said: “Building a Fairer Newham is about ensuring that everyone has a home that suits their needs. We are delivering more than 2,000 new homes, but they must be the right homes for people’s needs. Noele Gordon House is a prime example of this vision, giving older residents a beautiful, practical place to live while also helping families across the borough by freeing up larger homes.
“Many of our older tenants have spent decades in family homes that have become unsuitable; with Noele Gordon House, we are offering a warm, well-designed, and energy-efficient alternative. It’s a place where people can thrive, surrounded by like-minded neighbours, with access to the care and a community they need.”
Sese, who has lived in Noele Gordon since December, said: “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate Noele Gordon House, I’ve never lived anywhere like this before and I thought I wouldn’t live anywhere like this in my life - it’s like heaven on earth. I’m very happy, I feel like it’s increased my life. There is nothing to complain about, there is even a GP on the ground floor.”
Henry, who has lived in Noele Gordon for a month and Newham since the 1960’s, said: “Noele Gordon is beautiful, like a palace. It is really good, everyone is really happy and look after each other. I’ve been a lot happier since I came here, and I’m looking forward to it becoming warmer on the terrace as all the residents will sit outside and come together.”
Agnes, who has lived in Noele Gordon since December and Newham for 15 years, said: “Noele Gordon is fantastic, a very nice place. This is like heaven, everything in the property is perfect. Also, for NHS services you just have to go downstairs.”
Named after East Ham-born TV legend, Noele Gordon, famous for her role as Meg Mortimer in Crossroads, the development reflects the Council’s commitment to quality, sustainability and wellbeing.
Noele Gordon House consists of 75 one- and two-bedroom apartments, all designed with later-living principles in mind. The development includes:
- Private balconies for all homes
- A communal residents’ lounge
- A landscaped roof terrace for socialising
- An NHS health centre on the ground floor for convenient medical access
- A state-of-the-art telecare system providing 24-hour remote support
Designed by Mae Architects in line with Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) principles, the building fosters independence while combatting loneliness. The homes are offered at London Affordable Rents, ensuring accessibility for those in need.
Deborah Heenan, CEO of Populo Living, said: “We’re proud of our role in delivering Noele Gordon House for Newham, on time and on budget and all affordable homes. Populo has now built several 100 homes for Newham residents with a pipeline of 1,000s more, and continues to work to create innovative solutions that address our national housing crisis. Noele Gordon House reflects this commitment to doing ‘housing’ better, bringing warm, high-quality and appropriate later living homes to the market.”
The completion of Noele Gordon House is the result of a five-year design and build process, transforming the former Hartley Centre on Barking Road into a model for later-living accommodation. This scheme sets a new benchmark for council-led housing, demonstrating what a forward-thinking local authority can achieve in partnership with expert stakeholders.
