Regal has submitted plans for Orchard Wharf in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets adjacent to the mouth of the River Lea. The revitalised wharf will not only serve as a functional hub for trade but also reinstate the area’s historic relationship with the Thames, fostering a vibrant community in this true co-location project.
The site boundary of Orchard Wharf comprises 2.35 hectares of land. The proposals comprise a 7,524m² safeguarded wharf and logistics centre, 208 affordable homes (equivalent to 35% affordable housing) and 1365 Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) beds. Alongside this, Regal propose a ground floor cafe and community hub, 7,400m² of new open space including play areas, landscaped gardens for residents and open space for everyone to enjoy.
Regal and Thames Clippers Logistics have agreed outline lease terms as part of the redevelopment of the Orchard Wharf site, building a sustainable logistics solution for the future needs of London. The proposed warehouse and reactivated wharf at Orchard Wharf will be operated by Thames Clippers Logistics as part of their wider strategy to develop a high speed light river freight logistics service transporting cargo on behalf of businesses. This would be a high frequency, all tide service, using a RO-RO vessel concept.
Orchard Wharf will form part of Thames Clippers’ wider future plans to operate a point to point service from logistics hubs along the Thames Gateway into the local area, Canary Wharf and Central London. The fast and frequent service is designed to meet the demands of parcel / goods delivery from the major distribution hubs, providing direct economical, environmental and service delivery improvements to that being achieved by road.
The new service is expected to significantly reduce large vehicle movements on roads into central hubs from the east. Goods arriving at Orchard Wharf are expected to be transported onwards by EVs and cargo bikes that will be able to sustain distribution within the catchment area required.
The development will meet the co-location aspirations of the London Plan by providing vital low-carbon infrastructure for London’s transport and delivery network fully maximising the potential of the River Thames, alongside high-quality living with outstanding amenity.
Regal submitted a planning application earlier in May 2024, and expect to have permission in place by early 2025 so construction can commence.
“Orchard Wharf has been a real labour of love, and we are delighted to present our wider vision to deliver a new riverside neighbourhood with significant student and affordable housing, relieving the pressures on the housing stock in Tower Hamlets – all alongside a reactivated working wharf. Regal, with Thames Clipper Logistics, will play a key part in further bringing the River Thames into use to support a more sustainable London for the future.”
Steve Harrington
Planning Director at Regal
Thames Clippers are delighted to be partnering with Regal on the regeneration of Orchard Wharf a protected riverside site as a sustainable freight facility. This project will do much in revitalising the Thames as a clean and efficient transport route into the Capital to meet the demands of a growing city and remove more vehicles from its congested roads.
Geoff Symonds
Thames Clipper Logistics
Situated between London City Island and Trinity Buoy Wharf, our porposal continues the vibrant character of industrial brick buildings that has come to define the Leamouth neighbourhood over the last decade.
Taking full advantage of this extraordinary Thames-side location, elevated gardens above the wharf will offer residents a spectacular outlook, while at ground level, new connections and community space provide an improved environment for the public visitors.
We look forward to delivering this transformational project with Regal.
William Poole
Partner at Howells
Regal submitted a planning application earlier in May 2024, and expect to have the permission in place by early 2025 so construction can commence.
