The architects behind Greenwich’s 02 Arena will design flats for the first large-scale Council-funded building scheme for a decade, it has been announced.

Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners, who also worked on the 3 World Trade Centre in New York and the Pompidou Centre in Paris, will soon draw up plans for Leather Gardens, a pilot housing scheme in Stratford.

The £4m pilot, approved by Cabinet in April, will see around 40 new homes created in a small block of one and two bedroom flats on an undeveloped area of land in Abbey Road that will be offered to residents at an estimated 80 per cent market rent levels.

If the project is successful, it could see the Council set up a company to build and purchase homes to help tackle its housing crisis as it could be used to buy up to 2,000 properties off “failing” or unlicensed private landlords.

Mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales, said: “They are responsible for creating some of the most impressive and iconic architecture in the world’s greatest cities and I am excited to see what they will design in Newham.

“We want to improve the housing offer in Newham to help increase the resilience of our residents and make a real difference to their lives.

“By making investments such as this, we can increase the quality housing options available to our residents and raise standards across the industry.”