Berkeley Group gets permission for 2,200 homes in London
Developer Berkeley Group has been granted planning approval for a scheme that will deliver up to 2,200 new homes in Newham, 7.5% of which will be social housing.
The plans, approved by Newham Council in June, involve redeveloping the Bromley-by-Bow Gasworks and will include 166 social rent homes.
The redevelopment is being led by St William, a joint venture between Berkeley Group and the National Grid, established in 2014, set up to build new homes on redundant gas sites.
Detailed planning approval was granted for phase one of the scheme, and outline permission was granted for the other three phases.
According to the council planning report, the first phase of the development will deliver 83 social rent (13%) and 549 market sale homes.
“Together, all phases would deliver up to 2,200 residential units, of which 166 units (7.5%) would be affordable housing units, all of which would be social rental tenure,” it said.
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The report said that the affordable housing contribution “would constitute a significant shortfall” against development plan requirements.
“However, the viability-led approach has been followed, and officers acknowledge that based on this, the affordable housing contribution has been maximised.
“The delivery of affordable homes within the first phase of the development is welcomed, as is the delivery of ‘genuinely affordable’ social rental units,” it said.
Dean Summers, managing director of St William, said: “We’re delighted that our plans to regenerate Bromley-by-Bow Gasworks were given the backing of Newham’s strategic development committee.
“This comes after three years of detailed design work and engagement and I want to thank all of our partners and local residents who helped shape and supported these exciting proposals.
“This fascinating brownfield site is home to seven Grade II listed gasholders, making it the largest collection of surviving Victorian gasholders anywhere in the world.
“Our plan is to carefully restore and retain each of these vast decaying structures, and to transform the entire site into a welcoming mixed-use community, with over 70% of the land becoming public open space.”
He said that the scheme was designed in partnership with RSHP Architects and will “celebrate east London’s industrial history and bring new investment and other benefits to this part of Newham”.
“There will be over 2,000 low-carbon private and affordable homes, jobs, community space, shops, cafes, offices and a beautiful new park along the bank of the River Lea.
“And all of this will be sustainably located a short walk from Bromley-by-Bow and West Ham stations,” Mr Summers added.
The 23-acre Bromley-by-Bow gasholders date back to the 1870s and were part of east London’s industrial expansion.
The site was used for the storage of gas until it was decommissioned in 2010 and has remained fenced off from its surroundings ever since.
Berkeley Group said the next step is for a Section 106 legal agreement to be finalised, after which work can begin on site in 2025.
A similar-sized £1bn project was approved earlier this year, which included plans to redevelop and retrofit an estate in London while delivering 2,152 homes.
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