The 294 new homes would be spread across towers between six and nine storeys in South Street, replacing the shuttered Atik club.
They would be classed as ‘co-living units,’ where residents have access to their own private rooms, often with an en-suite bathroom, but share communal spaces like kitchens and lounges.
Residents in the new South Street development would have their own kitchenettes, a report published by Havering Council says.
The development will also include a shared workspace, and proposals have been put forward for a coffee shop.
Currently, the developers Urban Sketch and Legendre UK are seeking feedback and scrutiny from planning authorities, including Havering Council’s elected strategic planning committee.
A representative from Urban Sketch told the committee on October 23 that such accommodation “aims to create a community within that building that generates friendships, long-lasting enjoyment and makes rental safe and liveable in ways some accommodation doesn’t achieve”.
The flats will be the first of their kind in the borough, and Urban Sketch says “around 5,500” Havering residents would be suitable.
The development will “breathe new life into the town centre” and effectively repurpose a disused brownfield site, the committee was told.
Committee member Cllr Jane Keane said there was “no reference” to the history of the building in the plans, when the corner was “iconic”.
“It’s a very important, socially historic building and I’m really disappointed the council didn’t put it into the conservation area in the way it could have.”
She was told the developers will be mindful of its context and were looking to introduce an “art wall” populated by works from local artists, themed around its history.
The plans will “take a piece of that history along” and interior designs will include “nods to the people who came before us”.
Cllr Keane said it should be “built into the fabric” deeper than “just a nod”.
Councillor David Taylor, a fellow member of the committee, said that while workspaces are popular with the developer, they are not always desirable to residents.
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Formal proposals are yet to go before the town hall’s planning department, and the scheme is still in its ‘pre-application’ stage.
The plans are situated within the ‘brewery’ area of the Romford Masterplan, which is intended to guide development in the borough. The area has been designated for predominantly commercial development, with the potential for more housing.
Atik opened in 2018 and closed in 2024. Previous names included Time & Envy and Liquid.
