100 year History

Gateway Housing has a proud history of supporting communities in East London for nearly 100 years.

Our story

Our story in East London goes back to 1926.  

Gateway started out as Bethnal Green Housing Association. Our first development, Queen Margaret Flats, opened in 1929 and is still owned and managed by us today. 

We registered as a charity in 1961. 

In 1982, Victoria Park Housing Association began developing shared ownership homes,  another way into home ownership for local people. 

In 1993, Bethnal Green Housing Association joined with Victoria Park Housing Association. That same year, more than 100 new homes opened on the former Bethnal Green Hospital site, including homes for older people and people with additional needs. 

We became Gateway Housing Association in 2008, when Bethnal Green and East London Housing Association, Victoria Park Housing Association and Labo Housing Association came together to form the Gateway Housing Association we know today.    

Gateway today  

While things have changed, our connection to East London and our commitment to providing good homes and supporting our communities are the same.

Today, we manage over 3,000 homes for people in East London. Our homes are primarily in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.  

We are the borough's largest provider of sheltered housing and we continue to invest in new homes, including shared ownership and affordable housing. 

Looking ahead  

In 2026, we celebrated 100 years of Gateway. A century of providing homes for people in East London and supporting local communities to thrive.

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The Cockney Sparrow

The Cockney sparrow has long been a symbol of London's East End, representing the hardworking, resilient and close-knit communities that have lived there for generations. Despite its small size, the house sparrow is known for its lively character and ability to thrive in busy urban environments, making it a fitting emblem of the resourcefulness, determination and humour associated with Cockney people.

For Gateway Housing, the sparrow is more than a symbol - it reflects the organisation's East London roots and the values that have shaped it for the past 100 years: community, resilience and belonging. It represents people who face challenges with determination, look out for their neighbours and never lose their sense of humour. As Gateway looks to the future, the Cockney sparrow serves as a reminder of its heritage and its ongoing commitment to supporting the communities it proudly serves.

Small but mighty, the Cockney sparrow embodies Gateway's enduring commitment to its communities - always looking forward while never forgetting its home.