Proposals released for 24,000 new homes in London’s historic Royal Docks

Surplus industrial land around the historic Royal Docks in London is to be released for new home building under proposals put forward for consultation by the city’s Mayor  

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Royal Docks in East London were at the very heart of London's commercial success, acting as a hive of industry and attracting trade and people from all over the world.  

The Mayor’s vision is to restore the Royal Docks to its former glory and the area is currently enjoying an incredible transformation. Chinese developer ABP has secured planning permission for a large financial and business district at Royal Albert Dock with work starting later this year alongside two new hotels which are already underway.  

The Silvertown Partnership has already started restoring the iconic Millennium Mills at Silvertown Quays and will eventually deliver a new development including creative workspace, exciting new brand buildings and over 3,000 homes.  

The Docks are also set to benefit from major transport infrastructure projects such as Crossrail and new crossings over the Thames, such as the Silvertown Tunnel.  

Now, the Mayor is building on that success by launching a consultation on proposals to transform further parts of the Docks and adjoining Beckton Riverside to become a world class business destination as well as 24,000 new homes.  

 ‘This part of London was once a global standard bearer for trade and industry and we are already bringing about a new era of prosperity with exciting schemes transforming Royal Albert Dock and Silvertown Quays,’ said Mayor Boris Johnson.  

 ‘Now we want to take that success to a new level and transform further parts of the Royal Docks, capitalising on the potential of Crossrail and other transport infrastructure improvements to deliver more of the homes and jobs London so urgently needs,’ he added.  

A planning framework for the Royal Docks and Beckton Riverside focuses on releasing surplus industrial land and intensifying other sites, which City Hall believes will open up further developable land on the north banks, potentially leading to the delivery of 24,000 homes and 60,000 new jobs.  

The plans also explores the need for new and improved transport infrastructure to serve key development sites and improve the capacity of the existing network, including proposing new routes, a river walk and a network of open spaces.  

‘With careful planning, the potential exists to build on the work we have already done at Royal Docks and deliver tens of thousands more homes and jobs. I hope this consultation brings forward exciting ideas about how we can further regenerate this historic part of the capital,’ said Sir Edward Lister, Deputy Mayor for planning.  

The Royal Docks and Beckton Riverside Opportunity Area Planning Framework forms a major part of the Mayor's vision for East London. In October last year he launched 'City in the East' which is a visionary framework detailing how major development should take place from London Bridge to the Isle of Dogs and Greenwich Peninsula, right through to Ilford in Essex and Dartford in Kent.  
 
Detailed modelling carried out at City Hall, which includes linking 13 Opportunity Areas, showed for the first time how a minimum of 203,500 homes and 283,300 jobs could be delivered over the next 20 years.

STORY BY PROPERTY WIRE 21/03/2016