South-West London housing provider RHP has reached a major milestone in the transformation of its Ham Close estate in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, with four residential blocks, a workshop space, and a community centre all reaching their full height.
A ceremony marking this significant stage of the project was attended by representatives from RHP, Richmond Council, and the construction partner for the scheme, award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group.
The landmark regeneration scheme gained planning approval in 2023, after several years of work. This included extensive consultation with customers and the wider community, with the design of the new scheme incorporating their feedback.
The redevelopment is replacing all the blocks of flats built in the 1960s with 452 new affordable and private sale high-quality and sustainable homes. As well as increasing the number of homes currently on Ham Close, the regeneration is also delivering two new community facilities and a range of public green spaces.
The regeneration also brings with it a £2m social value fund to invest within the community, as well as opportunities for apprenticeships and construction jobs for local people, and a significant biodiversity gain for the site. The fund has already reached 1,300 people with many community projects and improvements underway as a result.
Sarah Thomas, RHP’s Chief Executive said: “At a time when delivering regeneration programmes is more challenging than ever, we’re excited to see Ham Close taking shape. Reaching this stage brings us closer to providing more high-quality, sustainable homes for our community, as well as contributing to the government’s house building target. With local residents at the heart of the project from the beginning, we’re confident the completed development will not only create a better place to live for our customers, but will also have a lasting, positive impact on the wider community.”
Leader of Richmond Council, Councillor Gareth Roberts, commented: ”This topping out marks a major step forward for the heart of Ham and the community who call it home. This development is about creating a vibrant, inclusive neighbourhood where residents of all backgrounds can flourish. Seeing the first homes take shape is an exciting moment for everyone involved.”
Cain Peters, Managing Director at The Hill Group, said: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with RHP and Richmond Council to deliver this landmark regeneration at Ham Close. This project represents a shared commitment to creating high-quality, energy-efficient homes that meet the needs of local people while enhancing the wider neighbourhood. Reaching this important construction milestone is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of everyone involved.”
The first stage of the regeneration is on track for completion in Spring 2026, when residents will start moving into their new homes.
The programme closely aligns with RHP’s purpose of providing safe, secure homes — opening the door to life opportunities. Across the past four financial years, RHP has delivered 252 new homes for local people and has a further 397 either on site or in their pipeline.
Header image: RHP CEO, Sarah Thomas, pictured with Cain Peters, Hill Group Managing Director, and Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council.
