Planning achieved for Genesis scheme at London, E14

Planning consultants Savills, incorporating Hepher Dixon, and Architects Child Graddon Lewis (CGL), have secured an important planning consent for the redevelopment of 48-52 Thomas Road, London E14 a post-industrial brownfield site in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for Genesis Housing Group.

The new high-density mixed-use development, located at the intersection of Limehouse Cut and Bow Common Lane, is a landmark development which will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of this rapidly changing area of the Borough close to the Leaside and the Olympic site.

The design incorporates 182 residential units with a 50:50 private to social housing mix, plus business start-up units arranged across three buildings, ranging from five to 12 storeys, each of which faces onto Limehouse Cut canal. A large number of family units including four and five-bedroom duplexes are proposed, in line with the borough Local Development Framework which reflects the family structure within the area. Amenities include 91 car parking spaces and 214 cycle spaces, and renewable energy for the site will be generated by biomass boilers. Complex planning issues included urban design, landscaping, traffic, servicing and parking, daylighting, amenity space provision, flood impact assessments and sustainability.

Planning consent for the scheme of this scale and quality has been widely welcomed reflecting the growing demand for further residential accommodation in the area as well as business space. At Planning Committee the application was described by a committee member as one of the best schemes they had ever seen at committee.

Lesley Bell of Child Graddon Lewis commented: “Thomas Road will provide very good quality housing. It’s been sensitively designed to reflect the importance of its setting and to integrate it within the existing community”.

Steve Coleman, Genesis Group Development Director said: “We are very pleased that our plans for this site have been approved and praised so highly by the council’s planning committee. We have worked closely with Child Graddon Lewis and the council to create a high quality design which compliments the local area. Once complete these homes will make a real difference to many people in Tower Hamlets.”

Roger Hepher of Savills Hepher Dixon commented: “From the outset, this was a challenging brief, requiring a mix of planning and design skills to achieve the right balance for Genesis’ needs and those of the Local Authority and the immediate community. In particular significant negotiation was undertaken in respect of the Section 106 requirements. All involved are delighted by the result.”

Savills Hepher Dixon is continuing to discharge planning conditions for the scheme to enable the contractors, Durkan Limited to start on site as soon as possible. The scheme is anticipated to start on site shortly with completion in spring 2009.