Decision due on major Thames Road site beside Tate & Lyle in Silvertown

Newham councillors are set to decide next week on a major development beside the Thames in Silvertown beside Tate & Lyle.

The Thames Road site would see 1,600 homes and sits between Pontoon Dock and City Airport DLR station with Ballymore behind the project.

The site was designated as suitable for development back in 2018 and now a decision on a hybrid application is due to be made next week. Tate & Lyle sit to the east and support the application.

They “confirm they have entered into a separate legal agreement with Ballymore with regards to the site that ensures the new residents will understand the industrial nature of the neighbouring area and the measures the development has taken to protect them from that.”

Hybrid

If approved the plan would see “demolition of all existing buildings and structures on site to facilitate a mixed-use development”. The detailed component includes “erection of 5 development plots ranging in building heights from 4 to 16 storeys and comprising a total of 774 residential units; purpose built shared living accommodation comprising 359 co-living units”. A revamped river path is proposed.

Improved access to the Grade II Listed St Marks Church containing the Brick Lane Music Hall is promised.

In terms of the outline component it includes “7 development plots ranging in building heights from 3 to 18 storeys and comprising a total of 911 residential units”. A primary school is proposed at a later stage.

The levels of “affordable” housing is 10.9% by unit or 10.3% by habitable room.

Those levels will prove controversial. The plot is located in Newham which has one of the highest levels of households in temporary housing across the country.

Transport

There’s a £2.2m contribution to TfL for improvements to Pontoon Dock station.

£860,000 is allocated to improved cycle routes between North Woolwich Road and Canning Town.

Santander cycle hire at West Silvertown Station is set for £220,000 with £72k for Brompton cycle hire. A further £250k is to go towards improvements on North Woolwich Road.

Growth area

To the north of Thames Road site sits Silvertown Quays where 7,172 homes could be built after another revision to the site’s masterplan.

Lendlease are developers there which has long seen outline approval, revisions but little actual building going on.

Ballymore have been more proactive in Silvertown having built the 3,000-home Royal Wharf development over the past decades then Deanston Wharf alongside.

Further developments are proposed including homes closer to the Silvertown tunnel. It’s been slow going, with plans revealed seven years ago at Thames Wharf.

As for Thames Road, Newham councillors will decide on Tuesday 13th January.