Westferry Printworks | Isle of Dogs | 155m, 107m, 79m, 66m, 50m | 46, 32, 23, 18, 13 fl | Site Prep + Public Inquiry

[SE9]

Westferry Printworks
Isle of Dogs
E14

Official website: http://westferryprintworks.co.uk/

EIA Scoping Report: Tower Hamlets PA/14/01927


Development Facts

Site: 235 Westferry Road, London E14

Developer: Northern and Shell

Architect: PLP Architecture

Residential units: 800

[Core Rising]

When viewed from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich this site will be off to the left, helping extend the CW skyline West. Although the tallest building will only be c. 90m, the site is much closer to Greenwich, thus should appear to be around the same height as the existing Marsh Wall buildings. Here's and old photo to illustrate; This site is where the smoke is:

DPP_0007 by corerising, on Flickr

This is also the only one of two sites left on the Peninsula which can extend the skyline westwards of CW when viewed from Greenwich Park. The other is the Barkantine Estate, if/when that ever gets redeveloped.

[SE9]

Updated plans:

• Building heights (storeys): 32 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 8

• Homes: 900

• Secondary school: 1,200 pupil places

[JamieUK]

Looks like that area is in serous need of improvement and wow a big improvement this would be.

[AUTOTHRILL]

that 80's pomo monster next door must go.

[SF-02]

Finally! I was wondering what was taking Richard Desmond so long. Can't stand the man but he can do some good by getting this going asap. And a big school will hopefully shut up all those moaning about other plans saying there aren't the schools.

[Londonese]

What are the heights?

[SE9]

Planning application submitted:

Planning application: Tower Hamlets PA/15/02216


Development facts

Residential units: 737

Retail space: 193m²

Office space: 2,340m²

Restaurant space: 1,348m²

Secondary School: 10,375m² (1,200 places)


Midrises/Highrises

Tower 1: 8 storeys | 43.25m AOD | 38.85m AGL

Tower 2: 12 storeys | 56.05m AOD | 51.15m AGL

Tower 3: 16 storeys | 68.85m AOD | 63.95m AGL

Tower 4: 29 storeys | 110.90m AOD | 106.00m AGL

[Core Rising]

Westferry Printworks by corerising, on Flickr

Westferry Printworks 7 by corerising, on Flickr

Westferry Printworks 6 by corerising, on Flickr

Westferry Printworks 5 by corerising, on Flickr

Westferry Printworks 4 by corerising, on Flickr

Westferry Printworks 3 by corerising, on Flickr

Westferry Printworks 2 by corerising, on Flickr

[Retro Specs]

I'm guessing the reason things are low rise to the Western part of the site is the Greenwich protected vista/sightline?

[Black Cat]

I cannot help but feel that this is a very underwhelming proposal for such a large and magnificent site with a long frontage onto a large body of water.

I can understand the desire for a mixed type of development in terms of residential unit types, building forms and heights, and that not every project has to be a stellar design. However, given the opportunity here to plan and design something special, this is just an old fashioned formula from the 50s and 6os of mixed standard point towers of different heights with low rise blocks behind, with green light court spaces between but of the type with signs saying "no ball games", just like you find in 60s council estates. Looking at the images, there does not appear to be any stores, cafes, etc along the long water front, though one assumes there is a public walkway. I hope I'm wrong.

From a planning perspective this is a very safe proposal to submit, no compelling reason for anyone to object other than on the grounds of urban blandness, so its very likely to proceed. Many will no doubt be very pleased to see the site's industrial activities and shed buildings disappear. If there were some stores/cafes etc at the base of the towers, or ideally some sort of recreational activity place such as a Lido, providing a destination to walk to, this would go a long way to making this part of the docks more interesting both for residents and people visiting the docklands.

[upthecreek]

They are planning restaurants in the bases of the towers along the dock.

[Core Rising]

Originally Posted by Retro Specs

I'm guessing the reason things are low rise to the Western part of the site is the Greenwich protected vista/sightline?

Not so much the sightline of St Paul's, but the desire to have the view of the Canary Wharf cluster slope down on the West side. If you look again at the second post in the thread, you will see that the Printworks site appear to the left of the cluster when viewed from the General Wolfe viewpoint. This site will effectively extend the cluster westwards when viewed from Greenwich park.

Unfortunately the future townscape images in the planning docs were too small to post here to show this.

[Black Cat]

Originally Posted by upthecreek

They are planning restaurants in the bases of the towers along the dock.

@upthecreek: Thanks for the info, as said, this is very positive and welcome.

[SF-02]

I've only just read that this was called in by the Mayor. Not sure when it happened. Presumably Johnson will approve before he leaves office.

[Core Rising]

Originally Posted by SF-02

I've only just read that this was called in by the Mayor. Not sure when it happened. Presumably Johnson will approve before he leaves office.

Some info here.

http://www.eastendcitizen.co.uk/2016...unity-sailing/

The sailing centre are against as they claim the development would reduce the amount of wind in the dock. However judging by the reason given for calling in the development (ahead of TH giving a planning decision), it looks like the council were once again going to reject it on over-development grounds.

[SF-02]

As that's now two that have been called in on the Isle of Dogs it does make me wonder why many other developers agreed to the 10+ floors cuts in recent years. If they'd gone to Boris after rejection they'd have got through.

[randolph]

I'm not overly impressed by this scheme. Given the site it could have been so much more ambitious. No streets, high streets, waterfront parade... too much greenery and little in the architecture to impress in terms of design or scale.

[Retro Specs]

Originally Posted by randolph

I'm not overly impressed by this scheme. Given the site it could have been so much more ambitious. No streets, high streets, waterfront parade... too much greenery and little in the architecture to impress in terms of design or scale.

The Isle of Dogs is really crying out for a high street too. It's retail provision is a ton of Tesco Expresses, one big Asda (that will close for some time during redevelopment), a few corner shops and take aways and the Canary Wharf malls. For such a large and growing population this isn't really enough.

[geoking66]

Originally Posted by Retro Specs

The Isle of Dogs is really crying out for a high street too. It's retail provision is a ton of Tesco Expresses, one big Asda (that will close for some time during redevelopment), a few corner shops and take aways and the Canary Wharf malls. For such a large and growing population this isn't really enough.

Agreed. I'd have thought that Millharbour would become an extension of South Quay Walk and turned into a high streets of sorts, so it's kind of disappointing that it may not be the case.