Silvertown Plot 1

The area boasts a rich industrial and trading heritage as it formed part of London’s docks from the mid-19th to the 20th century – the gateway to the world in the Victorian era.  The advent of containerised trade led to the closure of the docks in the 1980s when the site fell into disrepair, was grossly undervalued, used for illegal raves and extensively as a film set for blockbuster releases.

A thoroughly mixed-use development will take shape, transforming the prominent Millennium Mills building to a modern workplace and hotel offering, retaining and enhancing the existing dock infrastructure around extensive public realm and the provision of new homes for Londoners.

Plot 1 forms the main frontage to the Silvertown development and will signify the reawakening of the site after 30 years of underuse, neglect and dereliction. It will offer high quality residential accommodation totalling 265 homes set along the dock edge, with a landscaped courtyard and both communal and private roof terraces. Uniquely, a 15-acre body of water lies in front of Victoria Dock, with the potential for swimming, canoeing and sailing.

The plot frames the main pedestrian route through the Silvertown development and anchor point of a new bridge across the Royal Victoria Dock. Retail and hospitality units at ground floor create an active streetscape with cafes and bars spilling out into the public realm.

The arrangement of the buildings has been carefully considered to ensure the maximum exposure towards the docks, allowing views through the plot while the external composition pays homage to the bygone heritage of the site while reducing the overshadowing of the quayside.

With Lendlease, dRMM have carefully considered the resident’s experience of the building.  A generous resident’s lobby is provided off the main pedestrian throughfare that accommodates a resident’s lounge and concierge service while creating a link to the landscaped courtyard at first floor providing green space and opportunities for interaction between residents.

As one of the pioneering architects developing the first phase of the masterplan, we required a good understanding of the site and the underlying masterplan principles.  We worked alongside Prior and Partners as the masterplanners and were able to overcome challenges around the infrastructure, phasing, logistics and set the aspirations for the plot environs.  Collaboratively we benchmarked what good design might look like for the rest of the project, establishing a strong sense of place.

Over 440 individual pieces of feedback were collected through the consultation process, either at public events or via the Commonplace website. Overall, stakeholders have been largely supportive of the development’s objectives and intention of bringing the site into use again after years of being vacant and inaccessible.

When redevelopment of the site is complete, Silvertown will provide thousands of new homes and other space including commercial, brand, retail, hotel and community uses. Phase 1 offers 20% affordable housing and the overall scheme will deliver 35%, with ambitions to further increase.