Heritage Potential secures Listed Building Consent for the renovation of an apartment within the Grade II listed Ossulston Estate - one of the first inter-war period inner-city housing estates.
The Ossulston Estate is recognised by Historic England as the most important inner-city estate of the inter-war period, showcasing the London County Council's forward-thinking approach to social housing. Constructed between 1927 and 1931 by the London County Council’s chief architect, George Topham Forrest, the estate stands as the most important example of inter-war social housing.
Faced with the challenge of providing affordable housing in a densely populated area, Forrest introduced a groundbreaking concept for council housing at the time, proposing buildings up to nine storeys high with lifts – marking the first high-rise for London's working-class housing. While the full high-rise vision, which included commercial floors to subsidise the council flats, was not entirely realised, the estate still reached six floors.
The development was inspired by the grand social housing schemes of Vienna, which the architect visited at the time. This connection underscores the estate's role as a significant link between British and European Modernist council housing movements.
During assessment carried out by Heritage Potential, it was concluded that Levita House, a part of the larger Ossulston Estate, holds high historic and architectural significance. At the same time, the remodelling of the block’s interiors in the early 2000’s resulted in the loss of any internal significance. It was argued that further changes would not harm the significance and understanding of the estate.
Through positive engagement with officers, this position was agreed upon, and approval for internal works was granted before the 8-week determination deadline.
The photo used in this project profile is from The London Archives (LCC/AR/HS/03/062) – Ossulston Estate, Saint Pancras: Architect's Impression of the Southern Portion of the Rehousing Scheme with Plans.
