Another view of the future Strand East

Plans to build a ‘mini town’ of 1,200 homes, hotel and job-creating commercial areas at the Olympic Park fringe at Stratford have won approval of leading regeneration overseers.

London Thames Gateway Development Corporation’s planning committee were unanimous in their backing of the comprehensive new neighbourhood at Strand

East.

Its approval came a week after the scheme’s endorsement from Newham’s Strategic Development Committee.

Both bodies praised developer LandProp’s scheme for its design and placemaking, with a

strong emphasis on employment, including creative industries, to bring new jobs to the area

LTGDC member Neil Deely praised the quality of design, with the words: “We don’t see this quality of design often enough in London.”

Representing Newham’s Strategic Development Committee Jo Negrini commented:

“What we liked about this scheme is the focus on employment uses and jobs, particularly in the first phase, which helps to create a place, rather than a large, purely residential scheme.”

Andrew Cobden, LandProp Country Manager for the UK said: “We are thrilled with this result. The unanimous decision to grant planning permission pays tribute to the collaboration between LandProp, our design team and LTGDC and Newham over the past 18 months.”

The scheme promises to deliver:

 1,200 new homes, around 40 per cent of which will have three bedrooms or more.

 Areas providing around 620,000 sq ft of commercial office space.

 A new 350-bedroom Marriot hotel.

 A zone around Dane’s Yard, particularly aimed at creative

industries.

 A hub area at the south of the site providing facilities and shared space for local communities to use.

 Three new bridges and the opening up of a fourth bridge.

 A new bus route through the neighbourhood, with pedestrian walkways and cycle routes and improved access to and across High Street, Stratford.

 The substantial development aims to reduce car traffic, optimise energy efficiency and

maximise opportunities for reducing energy use.

 Retention of ‘buildings of note’ and recreation or refurbishment of yards and intimate spaces in Sugar House Lane Conservation Area.

 New open spaces and parks throughout the scheme, including the two stretches of waterfront

that adjoin the site, introducing rich habitats to encourage ecological diversity.

 A wide-range of housing styles will offer mews homes and London “Town

House” style units along with maisonettes, duplexes and apartments along the

riverside, as well as “elegant” blocks of 9, 11, 13 and 16 storeys.