Tower Hamlets · housing and retrofit
Tower Hamlets has an unusually wide mix of housing. Early 18th-century houses survive in Spitalfields, Victorian terraces line streets in Bow and Mile End, and the borough has many post-war estates and towers, including the listed Balfron Tower in Poplar.
Former warehouses in Wapping and Limehouse have been converted to flats, and large numbers of new flats have been built around Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs.
Property types
Homes we commonly see in Tower Hamlets
- Georgian and early 18th-century terraces
- Victorian terraced houses
- Post-war estates and tower blocks
- Converted warehouses
- New-build apartment blocks
Local considerations
What tends to shape retrofit here
- Historic houses in Spitalfields and elsewhere are often listed
- Flats in large blocks usually depend on building-wide decisions by the landlord or management company
- Converted warehouses can have thick masonry walls and large openings
- Communal heating systems affect individual heating options
Planning rules, conservation area guidance and Article 4 directions are set by the local planning authority and can change. Check the current position with Tower Hamlets Council before finalising external changes.
Making an enquiry
Enquiring from Tower Hamlets
- Tell us the building type and whether you own the freehold
- For flats, mention the management company and heating arrangement
- For programmes, include block types and number of dwellings
Services available
Services available in Tower Hamlets
- Retrofit Assessment – find out how the home performs now and what limits what you can safely change.
- Retrofit Coordination – one accountable role that joins the stages up and manages technical risk.
- Heat Loss Calculations (and Heat Demand) – size heating correctly and understand annual energy need – two distinct calculations.
- Condensation Risk Analysis and fRsi Calculations – check whether a junction or detail keeps internal surfaces warm enough.
- All services