Spotlight on Silvertown Quays development, London E16

Silvertown Quays is a large mixed-use development in the heart of Silvertown, a historic Docklands waterside neighbourhood in the Royal Docks, East London. The complete regeneration project covers a large 63-acre waterfront area bordering the Royal Victoria Dock, North Woolwich Road and Thames Barrier Park. Once complete, this new London destination will deliver approx. 3,000 new homes as well as commercial, brand, retail, hotel and community space. Silvertown Quays Phase One is expected to commence in 2021 and centres around the refurbishment of Millennium Mills, a former industrial flour mill and a significant East London landmark. Plans for the Phase One include approx. 1,000 new homes and two new major open spaces. Approved by Newham council in 2019, the project is developed by Lendlease (Elephant Park, Deptford Landings, Cambium, Glasshouse Gardens) and Starwood Capital under the Silvertown Partnership consortium.

The regeneration of Silvertown Quays aims to establish a new sustainable and flourishing east London waterside community by creating a unique place to live, work and visit:  a creative hub with world-class amenities, outdoor leisure facilities and new local job opportunities.  The master plan aims to improve Silvertown connectivity and links with the rest of London including some of the already well-established as well as the newly constructed neighbourhoods such as Royal Wharf, Waterside Park, Thames Barrier Park, Custom House, Canning Town, and further on with  Canary Wharf, Stratford and Greenwich. The district is nearby London City Airport and is already well connected to existing DLR stations: West Silvertown and Pontoon Dock are a short walking distance away. The new walking and cycling bridge links the site to the future Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) at Custom House.

Historically, Silvertown Quays was formed in mid 19the century as a Victorian manufacturing quarter housing factories by Stephen Winkworth Silver and later by his son William. Soon afterwards other companies followed such James Keiller & Sons, makers of marmalade, and the sugar refiners Tate & Lyle.

The progress of the Royal Docks (Royal Victoria Dock, Royal Albert Dock and King George V Dock) followed until the first setbacks and the inevitable decline in the early 20th century. German shelling during World War II targeted the docks as strategically important London areas and inflicted devastating damage to the Royal Docks including the Silvertown district. The docks closed for commercial use in 1981 as a result of an inevitable progress in the shipping cargo industry which introduced the containerised cargo as a more efficient method of moving goods around the world. Subsequently, larger ships couldn’t fit in the docks anymore but switched to using container ports established further down the river, thus making the Royal Docks obsolete.

The buildings of historic and heritage interest, which remain on the site and will be part of the master plan, are: Millennium Mills,  a rundown flour mill often used as a film, TV and music events set since the 1980s, and  Grain Silo D, a Grade II listed, 1920s modernist, reinforced concrete silo. 

A large team of designers working on the project includes Prior and Partners, AHMM, dRMM, Pollard Thomas Edwards and Maccreanor Lavington, with Arup advising on transport, Aecom on infrastructure and West 8 and Churchman Thornhill Finch on landscape.

Call  +44 (0)20 7701 7000 or Email newhomes@chaseevans.co.uk

for further information about Silvertown Quays, London E16