Northern & Shell Investments, the property subsidiary of media tycoon Richard Desmond, is preparing to submit a new EIA application, to more than double the number of homes in its Westferry Printworks scheme, E14.
The 15-acre site was home to the presses of the Daily Express and Daily Star, which Desmond sold to Trinity Mirror in February this year. Demolition has been completed and the site has consent for 722 new homes, approved in 2016 by then London mayor Boris Johnson, via a “call-in”.
Planning documents submitted to Tower Hamlets show the new plans envisage 1,537 homes and 85,000 sq ft on non-residential space. Similarly, with the current consent, a new 1,200 pupil secondary school is proposed.
The new scheme increases the general building height to nine storeys, with five towers of between 19 and 46 storeys. This compares with between eight and 30 storeys in the original proposals.
Landowners Northern & Shell are working with development managers Mace on the project.
Mace development director Mike Myles said: “The revised proposals respond to the recent London Plan, in which the Isle of Dogs has been identified as an area that requires substantial investment in the delivery of new and affordable homes.
“Sadiq Khan has called for almost 65,000 new homes to be delivered every year, with Tower Hamlets having a target of over 3,500 per year. The new planning application will not only deliver more homes, but also a higher percentage of affordable housing.
“Following scheme development and consultation with local residents and statutory consultees over the next few months, we intend to submit a new planning application.
Isle of Dogs uplift
Around half a kilometre away, across Millwall Outer Dock, Ashbourne Beech Property submitted an EIA application last year for 2,000 new homes, a supermarket and primary school. It had originally been granted planning consent for 850 homes in 2012.
However, the application was withdrawn after Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs lodged a formal objection – the first time the mayor had objected to a scheme.
Other major tower schemes across the Isle of Dogs have also fallen foul of the planning committee, with both Meadow’s 319-home, Millharbour scheme and Cubitt Property Holding’s 336-home Marsh Wall scheme rejected. Both have appealed against the refusals.
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