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A major new mixed-use development has received unanimous planning approval in Tower Hamlets, promising to transform a long-vacant riverside site with a combination of student housing, affordable homes, and a working logistics hub. Developer Regal London has secured permission for its ambitious Orchard Wharf scheme, marking a significant step towards addressing the borough’s acute housing shortages and promoting sustainable transport solutions.
The development, located on the Leamouth peninsula between the River Thames and the River Lea, will be anchored by a 1,365-bed Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). This is a crucial component aimed at alleviating pressure on the local rental market by providing dedicated housing for students, freeing up private homes for families and local residents.
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The project goes beyond just housing. It is a true "co-location" scheme, incorporating a fully reactivated 7,524 sq m working wharf. This logistics center, which will be operated by Thames Clippers Logistics, aims to reduce road freight traffic by leveraging river transport. The move aligns with the London Plan's aspirations for low-carbon infrastructure, turning a previously dormant plot into a functional, sustainable hub.
In addition to the student beds, the scheme includes a total of 208 affordable housing units, which constitutes 35% of the project's residential component. Regal London's planning director, Steve Harrington, expressed delight at the committee's unanimous decision, noting the development's balance of economic opportunity, housing needs, and community benefits. The project will also create more than 7,400 sq m of new public open space, including landscaped roof gardens, enhancing the area's public realm and providing new connections to the Thames Path.
With the site having sat derelict for over two decades, the unanimous approval represents a major milestone in the regeneration of this riverside area. Construction is expected to commence in early 2026.
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