KEY DETAILS
Hepworth Place
Location: Waltham Forest Town Hall, Fellowship Square
Homes: 433
Partners: London Borough of Waltham Forest and Riverside Group
Project Duration: 7 years
Gross Development Value: £175m
Land: Brownfield
Social Value: £6.1 million in social value, including £4.5 million through local spending and community initiatives and an additional £1.6 million through local employment opportunities.
Introduction
Hepworth Place is a landmark development delivering 433 new homes in a vibrant, inclusive community setting. The development has enhanced the local area with a new nursery/crèche, retail and commercial space, and a civic building featuring a café/restaurant.
The project also prioritises public spaces, with landscaped gardens, over 200 new trees, and play facilities set within Chestnuts Field - a central green space offering over six acres of parkland, walking routes, and an all-weather perimeter path, creating a welcoming and accessible environment for all.
Housing Delivery and Affordable Homes
Vistry is building and selling homes on this development to open market customers through its Countryside Homes retail brand. With a mix of 228 open market homes, 118 shared ownership properties, and 87 homes for London Affordable Rent, the scheme addresses a broad spectrum of housing needs.
“I was slightly anxious about buying a new-build and had read mixed reviews about Countryside Homes. But it turns out Countryside Homes have been nothing but fantastic from the start in dealing with any queries, follow ups, and any repairs needed. The development also looks amazing, it feels like it’s not London. It’s really the best service I could have expected to receive, and best decision I could have made. I’m so enthusiastic that I have been trying to convince a friend to buy in this building too.”
“Third-party satisfaction has been strong across the board. The project is a key part of the Council’s wider growth strategy and Sport England endorsed the integrated approach to Chestnuts Field. Stakeholder collaboration has ensured operational continuity for Council services throughout the build.”
Community Facilities
The design of Hepworth Place fosters a sense of community spirit. The vision of a ‘public realm first’ development has come to life. The space at the back of the Town Hall has been transformed from a former car park to the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden and a Sensory Garden. The development has also introduced flexible routes through the site to reconnect residents with Chestnuts Field and the front lawns of the Town Hall, areas previously closed and underused. Vistry has also been involved and sponsored local community events, such as Waltham Forest Community Day.
Employment and Local Business
Vistry is dedicated to skills development and social value through a range of impactful initiatives. These include the Destiny virtual work experience programme, which engaged 33 local residents, and financial contributions such as £60,000 to the Civic Fund for local events and £28,000 annually to support the Door to Shop service for older residents. The company also donated 20 boilers worth £20,000 to Waltham Forest College to support plumbing training and has actively promoted employment by attending five local job fairs since September 2024.
Commitment to Nature and Sustainability
Vistry is committed to Homes for Nature, a plan to help wildlife thrive in the places we build.
Biodiversity and new habitats for wildlife were enhanced through the creation of a sustainable urban drainage wetland to help mitigate flooding across the site.
Hepworth Place highlights its strong commitment to sustainability through its partnership with Vital Energi which provides a long-term, low-carbon energy solution. An advanced district heating system, powered primarily by air source heat pumps (ASHPs), provides residents with efficient and environmentally friendly heating and hot water. As a car-free scheme, Hepworth Place also enhances the public realm with thoughtfully designed landscaping, seating areas, and pedestrian-friendly routes. To support sustainable transport, an exclusive car club offers residents convenient, eco-conscious mobility options.