St William, part of the Berkeley Group, has been granted planning permission for the regeneration of the Beckton Gasworks, paving the way for the delivery of 2,900 new homes.
The housebuilder was given the green light for its Beckton Riverside scheme by the London Borough of Newham’s Strategic Development Committee, subject to the signing of the S106 agreement, which will see a comprehensive package of enabling and remediation works carried out ahead of the residential development.
Outline planning permission was also granted for the residential element, a new five-acre riverside park, new open spaces and a mix of commercial and community uses.
The 30-acre site of the former Beckton Gasworks, once part of the largest gasworks in Europe, has lain derelict since the 1960s, and presents a complex engineering challenge for the developer.
St William will invest up to £250million to unlock the site before the first homes are sold, including £47.4million in enabling and remediation costs. The work will also include extensive flood defence upgrades, such as repairing the river wall, raising flood defences and lifting site levels.
Backed by the London Borough of Newham, GLA and Homes England, the scheme could act as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Beckton Riverside, unlocking thousands of homes, new social infrastructure and long-term local employment opportunities.
Beckton Riverside could begin construction in 2028, with the first homes completed in 2030.
Managing director of St James & St William, Dean Summers, said: “This marks a significant step forward for this complex, long-term regeneration site, and we’re delighted that our shared vision for Beckton Riverside has been backed by the London Borough of Newham. There is still a long way to go to bring this project into delivery, and we continue to work closely with the council, GLA, Homes England and local stakeholders to develop a viable scheme that unlocks the site’s enormous potential.”
“Achieving this will require continued focus and collaboration from all partners. Berkeley Group is ready to invest over £250million in the first phase to remediate the 30-acre site, strengthen flood defences, upgrade local infrastructure, and begin creating a sustainable new neighbourhood in East London. The result of this partnership would include 2,900 new homes, high-quality community facilities, a riverside park, and a network of welcoming public spaces, including a new stretch of Thames riverside that has been fenced off for generations.
“Unlocking this key site would also be the catalyst for further investment in the surrounding opportunity area and strengthen the case for the DLR extension to Beckton and Thamesmead.”
