News

Lendlease Stratford IQL blue towers approved

Lendlease has gained approval for its Park Place residential towers plans – the next major phase of its Stratford International Quarter London.

 

 

Construction will start in April 2023 on a 35 months build programme

The scheme is located on plots 1 and 11, next to the emerging East Bank of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

It consists of planned 35- and 14-storey hexagonal towers with blue glazed brick facades, which will provide for 350 homes above a colonade of ground floor commercial and community uses.

The plot 1 building will feature as the tallest tower in the planned Internation Quarter London cluster.

IQ

Park Place building sits on the left of the IQL group of buildings

Designed by Alison Brook Architects with support from engineer Aecom, it will feature stepped massing to create ‘park ledges’ that climb the towers in a spiralling movement.

Their bespoke ultramarine blue-glazed terra-cotta and brick cladding references the porcelain industry that once thrived in Stratford.

The buildings will provide around 50,000 sq ft of flexible retail space at ground level

Read More

Derwent buys eye hospital for 750,000 sq ft scheme

Derwent London has sealed the deal to buy the Moorfields Eye Hospital site near London’s silicon roundabout tech quarter.

 

City Road Island site
City Road Island site

 

The City Road Island site is being sold for £239m, subject to Treasury approval and the delivery of the new Oriel eye hospital at St Pancras by 2027.

Derwent said it has appointed architect AHMM alongside a full professional team to draw up plans for a major 750,000+ sq ft campus with extensive public realm and strong environmental credentials.

The 2.5 acre Moorfields Eye Hospital site comes with 400,000 sq ft of existing buildings.

Paul Williams, Chief Executive of Derwent London, said: “We are delighted to have secured such an important central London regeneration opportunity in the heart of the Tech Belt, where we aim to deliver the next generation of distinctive ‘long-life, loose-fit, low carbon’ commercial space.”

Martin Kuper, Chief Executive of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “This is an important step forward for our plans for Oriel, a new eye care, research and education centre.

“The sale of our City Road Island, which is conditional on Treasury approval of Oriel, is a key element of our funding strategy.

“All proceeds will be reinvested in the new centre to secure the long-term future of world-leading eye care, research and education in a way that represents value for money and benefits our patients. “

Read More

London Whitechapel Estate rebuild approved

Developer LondonNewcastle has got the thumbs up for revised plans to rebuild the Whitechapel Estate in East London.

 

Block E will rise to 20 storeys
Block E will rise to 20 storeys

 

The estate regeneration scheme located just south off the Royal London Hospital has been designed by architects PLP and Adjaye Associates.

It will see all existing buildings demolished and replaced with a dozen new buildings ranging from 2-23 storeys over a five-year programme.

Existing estate

Existing buildings will be torn down in a four-phase demolition plan

Rebuild plan

Aerial view of new blocks planned for Whitechapel Estate in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets

The new residential mixed-use neighbourhood will deliver 529 new homes over the course of several phases, totalling around 550,000 sq ft of constructed space around new green spine space.

The homes split includes 311 private homes, 59 affordable rent flats and 159 specialist units.

Whitechapel Estate

Block I will be the tallest of the towers at 23 storeys

Planning consent was originally granted in early 2018 but a start to the project was delayed by covid and led to revised plans being submitted that increased its efficiency and enhanced deliverability.

This includes a change to the energy strategy from combined heat and power to an air source heat pump backed by high efficiency natural gas boilers and relocation of the Energy Centre.

Contractors Ardmore and JRL are understood to have been in talks to deliver the project, where enabling works are expected to start this summer.

Read More

HK buyer swoops for 1.4m sq ft London Vauxhall development site

Hong Kong-based Far East Consortium has snapped up a major development site in London’s Nine Elms high-rise development district.

 

Vauxhall Square planned development
Vauxhall Square planned development

 

FEC paid £96m to fellow Chinese developer Guangzhou R&F Properties for the Vauxhall Square development site.

The deal will see Guangzhou R&F Properties record a loss of nearly £69m on the disposal.

The site comes with outline planning for seven major buildings, including twin 50-storey flat-top residential skyscrapers.

FEC said it had been on the hunt for a large-scale London development project to accelerate its ambitious plans for future expansion.

The developer will review the existing 1.4m sq ft mixed-use Vauxhall Square scheme, which it described as exactly the scale and type of development it hoped to acquire.

Bounded by Parry Street, Bondway, Miles Street and Wandsworth Road in Lambeth, Vauxhall Square’s existing planning consent aims to transform the site into a truly mixed-use development of residential towers, offices, a hotel, student accommodation (already built), a cinema, retail and restaurants.

John Connolly, Head of UK Development at FEC, said: “As specialists in creating innovative, functional mixed-use developments, we knew we wanted to add another large-scale project to our portfolio.

“The site at Vauxhall Square has so much potential, and I am confident we will be able to apply our expertise and experience to deliver a space that responds to the needs of local and new residents alike.”

Vauxhall Square joins FEC’s portfolio of developments, including Consort Place in Canary Wharf, the ambitious Victoria Riverside in Manchester’s Red Bank neighbourhood and the restoration of the Grade II* listed Hornsey Town Hall in London’s Crouch End district.

Read More

Plan for £250m Wembley tower resi-led scheme

Plans have been lodged for a new residential-led scheme in Wembley featuring a 32-storey main tower with stepped buildings clustered around.

 

Stonebridge Place project will involve building three new buildings around a recent office to flat conversion
Stonebridge Place project will involve building three new buildings around a recent office to flat conversion

 

Landowner Canada Israel and development manager Avanton plan to develop the Wembley Point site on Harrow Road with 515 new homes of mixed tenure, 1,200 sq ft of commercial space and a new boxing gym.

The £250m Stonebridge Place development will be built around an already completed office to flats scheme at the location, known WEM Tower London, and will feature landscaped gardens, pedestrian boulevards and new water features.

Architect Patel Taylor drew up the masterplan with Pell Frischmann advising on the environment and water features.

Of the 515 new homes, 341 will be for market sale, with 35% allocated for affordable housing comprised of 57 shared ownership and 117 affordable rent homes.

The first building is a 32-storey triangular tower with glass and green terracotta façade providing 266 one, two and three-bedroom flats for sale.

The second stepped building, rising from 10 to 20-storeys, will have a glass and beige brick façade with balconies providing 249 mixed-tenure homes and flexible commercial space, with a large podium garden at first floor level.

A planned third three-storey building on the site will become home to a new boxing gym and public café with a glass and bronzed-black terracotta façade.

The new buildings will be sited around the existing 21-storey office building on site (pictured above), originally built in 1965 and known as Wembley Point Tower, which was transformed into a residential building in January 2022.

Gil Selzer, Managing Director of Canada Israel UK said: “This proposed residential-led development at Wembley Point is a major urban regeneration project that will create a new destination for South Wembley.

“Stonebridge Place marks the next step in Canada Israel’sinternational expansion plans and building a strong real estate presence in the London property market.”

Omer Weinberger, CEO of Avanton says: “Avanton are delighted to be partnering with international property company Canada Israel on this major urban regeneration scheme in Wembley which will provide market sale, BTR and social housing provision.”

Read More

Berkeley moves forward with new Guildford quarter plan

Guildford Borough Council and the St Edward joint venture between The Berkeley Group and M&G Real Estate have exchanged contracts to develop the North Street site in the town Centre.

 

 

It will be the first step to deliver the new Friary Quarter neighbourhood of 500 homes and ground floor retail, leisure and amenity space.

A new planning application is expected to be submitted this summer with construction commencing 12 months later.

Councillor John Rigg, responsible for regeneration at Guildford Borough Council, said: “I am delighted after seven or eight previous failed schemes on this site over three decades and two years of hard negotiations, we are now under contract with one of the country’s leading housing developers, able and enthusiastic to bring forward such a fantastic regeneration scheme.

“For us to be able to deliver new, sustainable homes and create an exciting new neighbourhood helping to take the pressure off the green belt, whilst also aiding the recovery of the high street is a huge opportunity.

“The extra wins of a new bus interchange and removal of vehicles and pollution from North Street will create a wonderful, safer new environment for visitors to the town.”

Paul Vallone, Executive Chairman of St Edward, added: “We are very excited about engaging with the local community to design a beautiful development with attractive places to shop, eat and catch up with friends.

“We believe we can make somewhere truly special, with its own distinct character, whilst providing a fantastic amenity for local people. This is about creating homes and shared spaces that everyone can enjoy.”

Read More

Telford Homes to build twin tower blocks at London Stratford

Telford Homes has snapped up a site near East London’s Stratford International station to build two residential tower blocks.

 

A three-way partnership between LCR, the Department for Transport and the high-speed rail company HS1, sold the taxi rank site to the developer.

Telford already has planning for the 380 homes development, of which 60% will be build to rent and 40% affordable, bringing much-needed housing to East London in line with Government housing targets.

The sale of the combined site on a long lease forms part of a long-term, LCR-led project to consolidate complex land interests and enable development and regeneration across Stratford City over the last 25 years

Jerome Geoghegan, Land & Planning Director at Telford Homes, said: “Stratford is one of the most exciting places to be in London, and we’re witnessing the benefits of effective placemaking in real-time.

“Having developed more than 1,750 homes in the area over the last twelve years, securing the opportunity to deliver more homes for the neighbourhood means we’re able to further contribute to making Stratford a world-leading destination, as well as improving housing supply.

“This site is a great example of our aim to build sustainable communities and create rewarding opportunities for our partners, residents and the communities in which we build.”

Read More

56-storey Canary Wharf resi tower approved

Hong Kong-listed developer Far East Consortium has received planning consent for a 56-storey residential tower at Canary Wharf in London Docklands.

 

Next residential tower planned at Canary Wharf
Next residential tower planned at Canary Wharf

 

The building, designed by Maccreanor Lavington Architects, will rise to 230m including a short spire, which will be illuminated to light up the docklands skyline at night.

Enabling work on the £250m project next to Marsh Wall could start before the end of this year.

According to the latest plans demolition and construction works are expected to take around four years, allowing the building to open before the end of 2026.

Skyscraper in London’s Canary Wharf will feature a distinctive crown with an illuminated spire

The 54,000 sq ft building will provide 495 flats, including a single luxury penthouse on the top floor. Just over 130 flats will be affordable within the building.

Read More

Plans in for two more towers at London’s Canada Water

Developer British Land has unveiled plans for two more towers at its vast Canada Water regeneration scheme in south east London.

 

The residential façades will comprise of precast concrete panels packed with mineral wool insulation
The residential façades will comprise of precast concrete panels packed with mineral wool insulation

The two residential towers will rise to 34 and 37 storeys with the shorter connected to a nine-storey podium of offices.

In total the next phase of development on plot F, near the site of the former Daily Mail printworks, will provide 410 flats with balconies, a roof top park above the offices which will offer 37,540 sq m of workspace.

This next phase has been designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, with Aecom providing project management and Gardiner& Theobald as cost consultant.

AKT II is the structural and facade engineer with MEP and Vertical Transport designed by Sweco

It follows three other major building projects, which moved to construction last year. Wates picked up Plot A1 – a 270,000 sq ft 35-storey tower for 186 build to sell homes.

Mace took the contract for Plot A2 – a 250,000 sq ft office-led project including a 56,000 sq ft leisure centre, McAleer and Rushe is working on Plot K1 – a building solely for 79 affordable homes.

Together these three projects are worth around £300m.

The £3bn Canada Water scheme, on the south side of the Thames in Rotherhithe, ranks as the London developer’s most ambitious pipeline development with 5.5m sq ft of mixed-use space planned.

Read More

Green light for 350 North London rental homes project

Transport for London and residential landlord joint venture partner Grainger have got the planning green light for a 350 rental homes scheme in North London.

 

The Cockfosters project will sustain around 130 jobs over the course of construction
The Cockfosters project will sustain around 130 jobs over the course of construction

 

Designed by HawkinsBrown and Mae Architects, the scheme will be built across four buildings located adjacent to Cockfosters London Underground station in Enfield, subject to conditions.

Construction is set to get underway before the end of this year.

It is the fourth project being brought forward by the Connected Living London JV and will include 40% affordable housing, commercial space, better public realm, and new operational space for TfL.

TfL Image - Cockfosters Development CGI 3

The new homes will be mix of one, two and three-bedroom properties.

Ben Tate, a spokesperson for CLL and head of property development at TfL, said: “We’re really pleased to have been given the go-ahead for our proposed development by Cockfosters Tube station, building on the success of our CLL schemes in Southall, Nine Elms and north Lambeth.

“It will contribute around £4.5m to help improve local infrastructure and services.”

With the capital’s shortage of quality rental properties and affordable homes, CLL was established in July 2019 with an ambition of creating mixed tenure rental communities in the Capital.

Nine Elms overstation scheme will contain nearlyt 500 flats

The green light for Cockfosters follows successful outcomes for applications to deliver 460 new rental homes in Southall at a project known as the Sidings, which due to start in the second quarter of 2022.

Southall station rental scheme in West London

Work is also due to start shortly on Montford Place in Kennington, the JV’s 139 rental homes project in north Lambeth, which was a project site for the Northern Line Extension.

For the large Nine Elms overstation scheme in Vauxhaul, Mace and Bouygues are understood to be among firms that have submitted bids to build 479 new rental homes. This scheme has just advanced this month to tender assessment.

Collectively, these four schemes will deliver more than 1,400 new rental homes across the city.

Read More