A landmark development on the Royal Docks creating a thriving new community reached a major milestone this week with a topping-out ceremony.
The latest phase of the Royal Albert Wharf regeneration, known as Gallions Place, is made up of 241 mixed-tenure, high quality homes and 1,500 sqm of mixed-use space that will become a community hub for residents and the wider development.
A joint venture between Notting Hill Genesis and Vistry Partnerships London, Gallions Place will provide 47 homes for affordable and social rents, 48 for shared ownership and 146 for private sale.
Construction works commenced in August 2020 and the topping-out ceremony celebrates this phase reaching its highest point, with the largest of three blocks now standing at 12 storeys.
Nestled between the docks and Gallions Reach DLR station, in addition to new homes the development will also provide a range of public realm benefits and improvements, including: a new urban park to the south of Gallions Reach DLR station containing children’s play areas and new and enhanced walking and cycling routes providing greater connectivity for the local community to surrounding transport links and facilities.
John Hughes, Group Director of Development for Notting Hill Genesis, said: “Royal Albert Wharf has been incredibly popular with residents and we know this next phase will be no exception. Our aim is not just to build new homes, but to create new and exciting communities and this development has been a huge success story.
This is a really exciting time at Royal Albert Wharf, with famous chef Cyrus Todiwala opening his award-winning restaurant Café Spice Namaste, community art gallery Art in the Docks launching to host workshops, exhibitions and screenings, and now us reaching this latest milestone at Gallions Place.
Stuart Brodie, Divisional Managing Director of Vistry Partnerships, added: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Notting Hill Genesis in delivering this latest phase of the extensive multi-phased regeneration works at Royal Albert Wharf. Our shared vision was to create a vibrant, thriving and sustainable community in an historic waterside setting where people will love to live, work and relax, and judging by recent strong interest following our sales launch, we have significantly achieved this.”
Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Mayor of Newham, commented: “I know how important a home is, from my own personal experience of losing my family home, and why affordable housing for local people is a cause that is so close to my heart. That’s why is I am very pleased that more affordable homes are being built as part of the amazing regeneration of the Royal Docks, and I pledge to keep working hard each day to provide more affordable homes for our residents across Newham.”
Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing at the GLA said: “This is an exciting milestone for this important development. The new homes at Gallions Place will provide affordable housing for hundreds of local families. The addition of a new community hub, stunning urban park, and great walking and cycling routes will benefit not just the new residents but those who live and work in the local area.”
By the time the Royal Albert Wharf regeneration is complete, it will have delivered more than 1,850 new homes, at least 40 per cent of which will be affordable housing, in addition to 9,173 square metres of commercial space.
It was this month named Best New Development in the South by readers of First Time Buyer magazine.
Final handover of Gallions Place is due in early 2023, with the entire Royal Albert Wharf project being completed in 2024.