Tall & Urban News

Developer Regal London has submitted a planning application for a £500-million (US$674-million) mixed-use scheme at Orchard Wharf in London Docklands

The Orchard Wharf project will be Regal London’s largest to date and will include reactivating the safeguarded wharf to maximize the use of the river for freight.

The developer has now submitted detailed plans for 826 flats and a last-mile logistics port of 88,000 square feet (8,175 square meters) of warehouse and office space and 1,450 square feet (134 square meters) of flexible commercial space.

The housing comprises 456 build-to-rent flats, 136 private sale, 81 discount market rent and 152 affordable rented flats.

The scheme also includes 72,650 square feet (6,749 square meters) of public realm, with landscaping and a new pedestrian route connecting to East India Dock Basin.

The former industrial site has been vacant for nearly 30 years despite significant amounts of residential development in the area and various attempts to unlock the land.

Steve Harrington, planning director at Regal London, said: “A lot of consideration has gone into this submission and the result is a plan that would unlock the full potential of this area, delivering a mixed-use site that exemplifies Regal London’s commitment to creating some of London’s best places in which to live, work and play.”

Regal London is working with JTP as lead architect, alongside Aukett Swanke and Spacehub.

Marcus Adams, managing partner at JTP Architects, commented: “Orchard Wharf is a unique mix of maritime industrial use and waterfront living, completing the regeneration of Leamouth Peninsula and re-establishing Orchard Place to create new public realm that improves accessibility to East India Dock Basin.

“The proposed horizontal mix of last-mile logistics served from the River Thames with residential buildings above is a first of a kind, removing haulage vehicles from London’s roads and providing much needed high-quality multi-tenure homes.”

For more on this story, go to pbctoday.co.uk.