Royal Docks Future Development

London’s Royal Docks continues to grow into a great place to work, rest and play. Identified as the capital’s next business district, the historic Royal Docks area is set to gain more than 9,000 new homes by 2027, with the development including commercial, retail, arts, leisure and community space. Here is more information about the ambitious plans in an area of London that has been changing and growing for more than 200 years.

Royal Albert Dock

The Royal Albert Dock in London’s East End aims to be London’s third corporate and financial district, acting as a center for businesses from Asia and wishing to do trade together. The latest development involves the 4.7 million square feet construction of offices as well as residential, retail and public spaces. The company behind the project, who was awarded the development in 2011, is ABP Investment Limited, a Chinese developer that has established a reputation for developing large-scale enterprise districts.

Future development projects will transform the Royal Albert Dock into London’s third business and financial district.

The first showcase of the Royal Albert Dock development to 400 international business leaders and media took place in June 2014, and Newham Council’s Strategic Development Committee granted planning approval for the scheme a month later. Site preparation work began in October 2016 and Multiplex confirmed as Principal Sub-Contractor for Phase 1 a month later.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by March 2019, at the same time that London’s high-speed rail link, Crossrail is due to open nearby. Phase One of construction will see 20 office buildings built along both the dockside and the high street, specifically designed to accommodate corporate HQ offices.

A larger, modern office building at the intersection of the International Business High Street and the Central Square will offer both single or multi-occupation to corporations from both the UK and abroad. A state-of-the-art Commercial Service Centre will provide all energy, heating and cooling requirements and car and cycle parking plus estate management facilities and local transport management offices will also be included.

The plan also includes vibrant waterside of cafés and restaurants, plus international and UK brand stores situated along the High Street which will offer a variety of mid-level and high-end retail choices for local residents and workers, but that also aims to become a destination for shopping and leisure for those from further afield.

Royal Albert Wharf

There’s a proposal for marine-based industry and a commercial boatyard at Royal Albert Wharf.

Work began in the Royal Albert Basin in 2008 when the Great Eastern Quays was first acquired. In 2013 the neighboring site, Gallions Quarter was also assigned for residential development. Both sites joined together to be marketed as one development called Royal Albert Wharf.

The first phase of Royal Albert Wharf, a new development by Notting Hill Housing Group is on course to be completed by the end of 2018, with many residents already have moved in. This project towards wider regeneration has included the building of more than 1,800 homes with at least 40 percent being classified as affordable housing.

The new waterside community, which incorporates restaurants, cafes, offices, and homes, is located at Great Eastern Quay, next to Albert Island and the Gallions Marina. There is also a tender for marine-based industry and a commercial boatyard which will provide services to London’s leisure and working craft operating on the Thames. In May 2018 Royal Albert Wharf was awarded the RICS London Development Property of the Year Award and the RIBA London Award.

Pontoon Dock – Silvertown Quays

Silvertown, the 62 acre site in the Royal Docks is the largest regeneration project in London.

Silvertown Quays is a 62-acre site in the Royal Docks between Canary Wharf, The O2 and London City Airport and the largest regeneration project in London. In 2016 consent was granted for five million square feet of commercial space for small, medium and large businesses and brands, alongside 3,000 homes, a third of which designated as affordable. The former flour mill, Millennium Mills lies at the heart of the site.

The Pontoon Dock development, a joint venture between Linkcity, the Grainger Trust and the Greater London Authority (GLA) who own the land is being developed to relieve pressure on London’s housing market. Next, to the Thames Barrier Park, there will be built 154 high-quality private rented homes and 82 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership. The development also includes office and retail space south of the Pontoon Dock DLR station.

The Thames Barrier Park is a small park sited along the River Thames that includes topiary yew shaped to represent waves. The park also has a sunken garden with a variety of plants and shrubs as well as a plaza, a play area, cafe, and toilets. The park then opens into a grassed area with a view of the barrier, offering the chance of a great photographic shot. The Barrier was built in the 1980s to prevent tidal surges from the North Sea from funneling up the Thames estuary and flooding London.