Stratford’s new V&A museum and BBC studios taking shape
A new cultural district in Stratford is seeing external structures nearing completion as a number of buildings take shape.
An area on Carpenters Road near the Aquatic Centre will include a new V&A museum as well as BBC studios which is set to replace Maida Vale as the premier home of live radio sessions.
East Bank is the name given to this area also set to see Sadler’s Wells Theatre and the London College of Fashion.
The BBC have just announced the sale of Maida Vale studios, which has played host to thousands of radio sets over the years.
Stratford will see three music studios on site alongside two radio studios. The site will also be home to both the BBC Symphony and Concert Orchestras.
V&A
The new Victoria and Albert East will be the second to open in London after their world-famous South Kensington home, and for many in east and south east London will be a fair bit quicker to reach.
The V&A site is one of two in the area with a nearby spot set to house some of the museum’s extensive collections. That includes “250,000 objects, 350,000 library books and 917 archives, currently stored at Blythe House in Kensington, West London”.
Sadler Wells theatre group are also set to move in with a 550-seat venue on site beside the BBC.
University of the Arts are creating a campus here with the London College of Fashion set to be one of the first to open.
If you fancy a peek the DLR line from Woolwich Arsenal to Stratford International passes the site shortly before reaching the terminus.
This footbridge will offer a shorter walk from stations towards the cultural district when work is complete.
It offers a direct route for pedestrians over a triangle of railway lines from both Stratford and Stratford International stations.
A 2023 opening is targeted for the UAL campus, a 2024 opening for the V&A’s storehouse and collections then others set to join by 2025.
Wow. I had no idea any of this was happening. Excited to see what the V&A site looks like. Thanks.