Forthcoming High Street in Silvertown takes shape

The first phase of development at Silvertown Quays including a formative High Street is now taking shape

A six-storey block will see 106 flats above commercial units as part of an eventual 6,500-home project.

The area’s Masterplan envisages a High Street running north-south between North Woolwich Road and the dock.

Like many projects in London over recent decades its taken an age to reach this far. Acres of land have sat derelict and vacant for more than twenty years beside the DLR line to Woolwich Arsenal.

In fact the and has sat idle for 40 years. It’s all so painfully slow going.

DLR Stations are minutes if not seconds away and have been for 15 years now. Pontoon Dock is set to see upgrades in time for the eventual 6,500 dwellings.

The current make-up of groups involved are Lendlease, the Greater London Authority (GLA), Homes England and The Guinness Partnership, who are set to build around 720 homes.

Millennium Mills

Millennium Mills and the D Silo sit on site and as listed buildings will remain and become integrated within the overall design.

In recent years part of Millennium Mills’ structure has been demolished. The remainder is due to become an “employment quarter” with potential leisure uses at ground floor level beside the dock.

Top-out

Topping out the 106 homes saw much congratulatory back-slapping though many will say they should probably save it until until a decent amount has been built. After all, we’re talking 40 years of talk now.

As for when those 6,500 homes are built and complete? Well, given the usual slow build rates we often see maybe 50 years?

To compound problems Leandlease earlier this year announced a retraction from the UK.