A £62m Plaistow regeneration project has come under fire on social media over a computer generated image (CGI) that shows only white faces inside a residential area.

The Plaistow Hub project will include 182 flats, a library, supermarket, gym and café at two sites in London Road and Valetta Grove and has been feted as providing “fantastic new community facilities and much needed housing.”

But Instagram comments under images of the residential foyer area pointed out there was “not a single person of colour in sight”, adding that “whoever drew this knew what they were doing.” Another asked “Where’s the black people?” Other comments below the Newham Street Blogs post raised concerns about “gentrification” in the area.

Newham is one of the most diverse areas in the UK according to data from the 2011 census, with around 17 per cent of the population describing themselves as “White British.”

In the CGI image of the foyer area, all eight visible faces that appear to represent guests or visitors are white. The receptionist appears to be of Asian origin. Separate pictures that depict scenes outside the flats, including the entrance to Plaistow station, include non-white faces.

Pitman Tozer Architects were behind the CGI images. After they were contacted by Newham Voices, the firm apologised and removed the picture of the foyer from their website.

A spokesperson said:

Pitman Tozer Architects apologise unreservedly for our unconscious oversight in not making the interior image more reflective of Plaistow’s diverse communities.

“The image was not made under any instructions from the client or to project a particular narrative. We have subsequently updated the image and will ensure the old version is deleted from our website and all social media.”

Pitman Tozer added that since producing the image in 2016, it had reviewed its CGI production processes to “ensure that new images are culturally sensitive and truly reflective of local diversity.”

Stratford-based Vistry Partnerships was last year appointed by Populo Living, Newham Council’s wholly owned housing company, to deliver Plaistow Hub.

Populo chief executive Deborah Heenan said at the time: “We are delighted to be starting work on this exciting new project which will benefit the whole of Plaistow. The Plaistow Hub project will provide fantastic new community facilities and much needed housing.”

Populo said Plaistow Hub would help to fund the construction of 77 affordable homes on Grange Road E13, 15 affordable homes on Baxter Road E16, 12 affordable homes on Chargeable Lane E13 and eight Shared Ownership intermediate affordable homes on Manor Road E15.

Work on Plaistow Hub is expected to be completed in 2023.

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