Nearly 4,000 homes are planned for the 29-acre former Parcelforce site in Stephenson Street, Canning Town, a half-hour walk from Canary Wharf Tower.
The scheme will have 356 homes per two-and-a-half acres, while the London Plan, covering the Mayor’s guidelines on densities, suggests a maximum 260.
However, Amanda Reid, head of planning and development at Newham, supports the project, arguing in a report being considered by the council’s strategic planning committee that “higher densities can be acceptable”.
The first phase of the scheme will have 1,020 homes in towers up to 377ft tall. A further 2,790 flats will be built in later phases. At completion in 2029, the development could house 10,000 Londoners.
In total, 3,810 homes will be built on a site that is about 10 times bigger than Trafalgar Square, with some 2,500 for private sale or rent.
More than 850 flats will go to first-time buyers on a shared-ownership basis, and almost 500 will be rented at subsidised levels to people on the council waiting list.
The development will, says Reid, make an “important contribution” to solving the borough’s housing shortage.
There will also be a new entrance to nearby West Ham station and two new pedestrian bridges across busy Manor Road.
The first phase will include 7,500sq ft of offices, 58,000sq ft of shops and a 1,000-pupil secondary school.
More than half of the site will be open space including two small parks.
Source: Homes & Property