The scheme, in the Crossharbour District Centre, will see the existing Asda superstore on the site demolished to create 152,000 sq ft of supermarket space, 158,000 sq ft of further retail space, 850 homes, community spaces, a public square and car parking. The retail space will be distributed on a central high street running through the site and an urban square next to the supermarket. A 23 storey residential tower will also be created to house some of the new homes.
The joint venture partners have been working on plans for the site with a design team led by architect Broadway Malyan and GVA Planning for the last five years.
The plans were approved despite the Council's Strategic Development Committee having previously resolved not to accept planning officers' recommendation to grant permission. Committee members said the scheme had a lack of affordable housing, including an insufficient provision of social rent units. However, the decision report (100-page / 2.47 MB PDF) said that officers were satisfied that "the scheme is delivering the maximum reasonable amount of affordable housing, with a tenure split which is compliant with national and local policy".
“This is a very exciting project for those working and living within London’s Docklands in terms of superior retailing facilities, new public open space and superbly-designed, low density homes in landscaped gardens with unique views across London,” said Mason Philips managing director Findlay MacAlpine. Chartered surveyors Mason Philips advised Ashbourne Beech on the scheme.
"Asda and Ashbourne have worked extremely closely with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets over the past few years to identify an exceptional balance of facilities which will not only complement Canary Wharf but offer wider services to the entire Isle of Dogs community," said Asbourne managing director David Newsome.
