Regal London Plans Major Student-Led Scheme Opposite O2 Arena

Developer Regal London is set to submit a planning application this spring for a master plan that includes 1,365 student bedrooms, 230 homes and 4,300 SF of commercial space at Orchard Wharf, a vacant site opposite The O2 Arena, Housing Today reported.

Architect Howells is working on designs to build seven mixed-use towers of up to 30 storeys, and a technical document was submitted to Tower Hamlets Council last week by consultant Trium Environmental, which outlined Regal’s vision for the 1.4-hectare site.

Under the proposals, all existing buildings at Orchard Wharf would be demolished, including two warehouses, with the location on former industrial land bordered by the Thames, the East India Dock Basin and Bow Creek at the southern end of the Leamouth peninsula.

Ballymore has already developed the 841-home Goodluck Hope residential scheme at the eastern half of the peninsula, plus the northern wing as the 1,700-home London City Island scheme, also designed by Howells.

This is the second set of proposals for the Orchard Wharf site that Regal London has submitted after a 2020 application was withdrawn following concerns over wharf operations raised by Tower Hamlets and the Greater London Authority.

The final number of homes and the amount of commercial space on the site is expected to be confirmed during consultation, although around 35% of the housing is likely to be earmarked as affordable.

The team includes Montagu Evans as planning consultant, architect Aukett Swanke and Spacehub as landscape architect.

Separately, Regal London has submitted plans for the redevelopment of 100 Chalk Farm Road, a circa three-quarters-acre site adjacent to the Grade II-listed Roundhouse entertainment venue in north London.

The planned development includes four new blocks from six to 12 storeys high featuring 265 bedrooms of purpose-built student accommodation, 24 affordable homes and nearly 9K SF of ground-floor commercial space, plus new public realm.