OUR PROPOSALS
OUR VISION
Klein’s Wharf has the potential to deliver new homes including family-sized social homes, a new multi-purpose community hub, and an open-plan and thriving neighbourhood.
Our vision has been shaped by the local community over the last year through extensive consultation.
TRANSFORM THIS PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED BROWNFIELD SITE TO CREATE A VIBRANT NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
ENHANCE THE PUBLIC REALM AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
REVITALISE THIS UNDERUTILISED SITE INTO A NEIGHBOURHOOD HUB THAT CREATES JOBS AND WELCOMES COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
TAKE A GREEN-LED APPROACH TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY AND WELLBEING ARE AT THE HEART OF THE SCHEME
OPEN UP THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE SITE FOR WIDER COMMUNITY ACCESS, PARTICULARLY ON THE RIVERSIDE
MAKE THE AREA SAFER WITH MODERN DESIGNING OUT CRIME FEATURES, LIGHTING, AND NATURAL SURVEILLANCE
NEW FAMILY-SIZED SOCIAL HOMES
Tower Hamlets is currently facing an acute housing crisis. The council currently has more than 20,000 people waiting on the housing register – the third highest in London.
The local population is expected to grow by 50,000 in the next 10 years which means the borough needs to build new homes on a significant scale to ensure today’s children have homes to live in when they are adults.
Underdeveloped brownfield sites like Klein’s Wharf will be key to delivering these new homes. Building significant numbers of homes on brownfield sites will also be key to protecting precious green spaces and other protected sites.
Following discussions with Tower Hamlets Council and with the local community, we have recognised the desperate need for new homes, including family-sized social homes.
HOUSING PROPOSALS
375 new homes across three buildings.
We are proposing 40% affordable housing per habitable room, which is above policy requirements, with 86% of this affordable provision being social rented stock - based off habitable rooms, rather than intermediate.
All homes will be tenure-blind ensuring quality, design, communal facilities are the same in private and social homes.
The three buildings will range in height from 25, 20, to 18 storeys.
A NEW COMMUNITY HUB
During our consultation exercises, residents told us new homes need to be supported with new community infrastructure. We want to deliver a thriving new neighbourhood that can fit into the wider community seamlessly as opposed to just building new homes. As part of our thinking, we want to deliver a new, flexible, multi-use community space that will be open to everyone. This follows extensive discussions with Tower Hamlets Council and our consultation with the local community.
We are proposing a community space that will be approximately 3,000 sq.ft. This space will be flexible and can potentially be used for a range of community activities. As part of our consultation, residents suggested a number of ideas to us which ranged from fitness, health & wellbeing to activities for stay-at-home parents and elderly people. We are currently in discussions with Tower Hamlets about the management and ownership of this space.
JOBS
Given the location of the site and its current and previous uses, we also want to deliver approximately 39,000 sq.ft. of light industrial employment space at basement level. This will ensure the ground floor of the development will be a publicly accessible space for all to enjoy, whilst also delivering approximately 45 new jobs in the area.
Our intention is to work with Tower Hamlets Council and ensure local people are trained and able to take as many of these jobs as possible. This will allow local people to work here as well as live here and generate local economic activity. We would also like to deliver a new riverside café to supplement the jobs offer – read more on the next board!
A PUBLIC SPACE FOR ALL TO ENJOY
RIVERSIDE CAFÉ
We want the new Klein’s Wharf to be an attractive place for the local community so everyone can enjoy it. Our proposals include a new riverside café which will bring people into the area, and also allow the community to enjoy the space. The café will be 3000 sq.ft in size and will also create additional new jobs alongside the new industrial space.
BIODIVERSITY & GREENING
The current site condition is of low ecological value, with little greenery. Our proposal is to introduce large areas of planting that draw on the character of local planting communities and that support wildlife. The proposal achieves an Urban Greening Factor score above 0.4 and a Biodiversity Net Gain of over 17,000%.
PLAY AREA
The ground level is seen as typically playable spaces, with formal and informal play elements for all ages dotted through the spaces and gardens.
YOU SAID: "WE WANT MORE TREES AND GREENING TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY AND WELLBEING AND TO MITIGATE AIR POLLUTION."
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We will incorporate sustainability and greening as a core tenet of our development.
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The proposals provide extensive areas of planting and ensure more than 50% of the public space is green.
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We are looking at attractive, climate resilient and drought-tolerant types of trees and plants to promote biodiversity, mitigate air pollution and wind exposure.
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Where the site fronts onto Westferry Road, we will widen the footpath so that during the school run at neighbouring Arnhem Wharf Primary School, pedestrian space and safety is maximised.
YOU SAID: "HIGH-QUALITY FAMILY HOMES ARE AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR THE LOCAL AREA AS OVERCROWDING IS A MAJOR ISSUE."
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We are going above and beyond what is required by local policy to deliver 3-bedroom social homes that are affordable for struggling local families.
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We are also going above and beyond in ensuring all new homes are tenure blind so private and social homes are the same high quality and have the same amenities such as balconies and communal spaces.
YOU SAID: "ANY COMMUNITY SPACE MUST PROVIDE A VARIETY IF ACTIVITIES AND MUST BE OPEN TO EVERYONE."
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We will ensure the new community hub is modern and flexible so it can be adaptive to a range of needs.
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We are already in discussions with the council about the management and ownership of the space. Our preference is that the council understands local community needs the best so it is well placed to manage this space and provide services.
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In addition to the new community hub, we are also providing a public play space for local parents to bring their children.
YOU SAID: "ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE TO BE SAFE FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SO EVERYONE CAN FEEL WELCOME."
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We will utilise designing out crime measures to ensure there are no dark or blind spots that can be conducive to antisocial behaviour.
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We will ensure lighting, CCTV, and natural surveillance are all maximised throughout the development so the area can feel safe for everyone.
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The new riverside café and community hub will attract the local community onto the site, ensuring there are no hidden or quiet spots that are conducive to antisocial behaviour.
PROPOSED VIEWS
NEXT STEPS
JULY 2023
CONSULTATION ROUND 1
FEB 2024
CONSULTATION ROUND 2
SPRING 2024
FINAL CONSULTATION & APPLICATION
SUBMISSION
A/W 2024
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
SUMMER 2027
START CONSTRUCTION ON SITE
We are currently waiting for the planning application to be validated by Tower Hamlets Council. Once this is done, there will be a planning application reference number and the local community will be able to comment on the plans. Please leave us your email address - once the application is validated, we will get in touch so you can comment on it.
SUSTAINABLE AND GREEN
We have designed our scheme in a way that allows us to deliver 50,000 sq.ft. of open space on the ground floor with extensive landscaping and play space. This is more than 70% of the whole site and is contrary to the current site which provides no public access.
At the heart of our proposals is the new riverside pathway which will allow access to the river to be complete on this side of the Island.Currently the site is walled off, creating an abrupt cut off for pedestrians between Millwall Slipway and Arnhem Place.
Where the site fronts onto Westferry Road, we will widen the footpath so that during the school run at neighbouring Arnhem Wharf Primary School, pedestrian space and safety is maximised.
KLEIN'S WHARF - FOR YOU,BY YOU
Over the last year, we have held two rounds of consultation to ensure the local community had a genuine opportunity to shape our proposals. Through our consultation exercises, we have learned about the need for family-sized social homes in the area to tackle overcrowding, the need for the development to be open and accessible for everyone on the ground floor, and more. Here are some of the key themes we have identified and how we have listened:
THROUGHOUT THE GROUND FLOOR, THE NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL CREATE A COMMUNITY SPIRIT WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE NEW THAMES PATH, RIVERSIDE CAFÉ, COMMUNITY HUB, AND THE PLAY SPACE.