Case Study: London Dock, Tower Hamlets
- 15-acre brownfield site
- 1,800 mixed-tenure homes
- 40% public open space including a civic square
- Secondary school
- Restored Grade II Listed Pennington Warehouse
In the 18th century, this 15-acre site lay at the heart of London’s docklands. In the 1980s it was transformed into “Fortress Wapping”, a highly secure headquarters and print works for the News International media group.
Today, it is being transformed again, this time into an exciting new neighbourhood with 1,800 mixed-tenure homes and 7.5 acres of landscaped public spaces, including a new civic square and pedestrian street.
The Grade II Listed Pennington Street Warehouse has been sensitively restored to become the commercial and cultural heart of the community.
Long Term Brownfield Regeneration
Gauging Square, a new civic square with events for the local community
More than 170 new trees across 7 acres of green public space
A community event led by the London Dock Community Fund
New shops and eateries line the new public square
Water fountains are very popular with local families, and pay homage to the site’s maritime past
Key Challenges
- Restoration of the Grade II Listed Pennington Street Warehouse
- Complex construction history, with subterranean walls, structures and a 300m sewer left behind
- Specialist scaffolding required to demolish buildings, due to proximity to the Grade II Listed building
- Reconnecting ‘Fortress Wapping’ with the surrounding community
- Working within a Conservation Area, with protected views
A Community Hub
St George has designed London Dock with the local community in mind. Formerly a secure and closed off print works and office complex, it now offers vital amenities and welcoming spaces for the whole community to enjoy.
- >480 affordable homes
- 1,200 pupil secondary school | doctor’s surgery
- >7 acres of landscaped public space
- shops | restaurants | cafés | office space
- large public square | public artwork
- interactive water features
- London Dock Community Fund set up to provide funding to grassroots organisations supporting the local community
- 65 apprenticeships on offer
Reviving Historic Architecture
The Grade II Listed Pennington Street Warehouse has been carefully restored – honouring the site’s past, while giving a forgotten building a sustainable and productive new lease of life. New buildings and public art have been designed to blend seamlessly with this heritage feature, and pay homage to local history.
- new access created to the warehouse
- new apartment buildings designed to mirror the structures originally built in the 19th Century dock masterplan
- water gardens and canal added, to honour the site’s maritime history
Opening Up the Site
With new pathways and sustainable transport infrastructure, the community can now access the site for the first time in decades. New routes make it easier to move around and access the wider area on foot or by bike.
- 300m quayside walkway
- new pedestrian promenade
- >2,300 cycle spaces
Sustainable By Design
This neighbourhood has been designed with energy efficiency in mind. Nature-based solutions have been incorporated throughout – providing habitats for wildlife, and bringing wider benefits to air quality and water management.
- all commercial units BREEAM ‘Very Good’
- >170 new trees
- green and brown roofs
- rainwater harvesting
- bird, bat and insect boxes
- target net biodiversity gain of >430%
- modern methods of construction used to build 60% of buildings on site
- high fabric efficiently
Sustainable Travel Options
Our Partners
Planning Authorities: Tower Hamlets Council | Greater London Authority
Architect: Patel Taylor
Landscape & Ecology: Outerspace
Housing Association: Peabody
Community & Voluntary Partner: East End Community Fund
