Developer wins appeal to build £230m tower scheme in London’s Isle of Dogs

Developer LBS Properties has secured planning consent for its £230m tower scheme near Canary Wharf after the project was originally rejected.

The 48-storey mixed-use development, located at 225 Marsh Wall, will replace an existing multi-let office building with 332 apartments and around 10,000 sq ft of commercial space.

LBS Properties will also deliver landscaped public realm at the scheme’s ground level, which will join gardens on the adjacent Madison project to create a new public square for the Marsh Wall East area.

Of the 332 homes in the plan, 71 are marked as affordable.

In late 2017, the application was recommended for approval by LB Tower Hamlets planning officers. But elected members of the Strategic Development Committee refused permission and a public inquiry was held last month, after which the planning inspectorate gave it the greenlight.

A report from the inspectorate read: “The building has been designed to an exemplary standard, making a significant new place and improving the quality of the Isle of Dogs cluster.

“A built development of this quality, seen in conjunction with the Madison tower ‘bookending’ a public park, would create an identifiably distinct place, making a major contribution to the character and quality of the Marsh Wall street scene.”

Nick Crawford, managing director at London-based LBS Properties, commented: “We are delighted to have received planning permission for this significant development, that will provide high-quality new homes, commercial space, and extensive public realm, contributing to the evolution of the South Quay area as an attractive place to live and work.

“It will combine with The Madison, due to complete in 2020, to provide a new public square for Marsh Wall East, and over 750 new homes in two slender towers.”

Forsters LLP and Russell Harris QC acted for the applicant, Cubitt Property Holdings Limited.

Frank Filskow, from Camden’s Make Architects, is the lead architect on the project.

He said: “At a time when it is agreed that more homes need to be built, that provide amenities and community benefits, we are delighted with this result.

“This is the first time we have used Virtual Reality to help the inspector assess the scheme on site and it made a real difference.”

Frank continued: “This will make a great sister building to The Madison which we also designed for LBS Properties and fits with the wider masterplan for the area, delivering wider benefits for the community including a nursery and retail.”