INTRODUCTION
St William is a joint venture between the Berkeley Group and National Grid formed to regenerate underutilised gasholder sites and gasworks across London and the South East.
The Marian Place Gasholder site is set within a vibrant neighbourhood which is home to a mix of residents, commercial, social, leisure and community spaces. The site has been decommissioned for a number of years and presents a rare opportunity to provide new private and affordable homes, jobs and public open space in Bethnal Green.
Since February 2019, we have been engaging with the local community to understand your aspirations for the site. This included a 3 day public exhibition held in May where we shared some early proposals for the site, including what it could provide and how it could look. Click here for the full details of the consultation.
We have reviewed all of the feedback received and this has influenced the design development and evolution of the proposals.
OVERVIEW
The Marian Place Gasholder Site, along with surrounding land including the Oval has been identified in the adopted London Borough of Tower Hamlets New Local Plan as a place that will contribute new homes, employment space and public open space.
The proposed redevelopment will celebrate the unique character of the gasholder site and create public access to the site, and a substantial stretch of the Regent’s Canal, for the first time in more than 150 years.
The proposals include 555 homes, including 35% affordable housing 4,182sqm of non-residential floorspace including workspace, 1.75 acres of public open space and the retention of the frames of both gasholders no.2 and no.5.
Key elements of the proposals are explained in further detail under the relevant tab.
Aerial view of Marian Place Gasholder site
Illustrative image of St William’s proposals for the Marian Place Gasholder site
Pop-up event, February 2019
Walk and Talk event, April 2019
Public Exhibition, May 2019
The redevelopment of the site will provide 555 homes, including 35% affordable housing.
The development will provide a genuine mix of homes ranging from manhattans – 4 bedroom apartments.
Of the affordable rent homes, 69% will be family homes which is a significant overprovision against the London Borough of Tower Hamlet’s 45% target.
All homes at Marian Place will be provided on a tenure blind basis.
Illustrative image of the proposed buildings
Our final proposals include the retention of the frames of both gasholders no.2 and no.5, which are located within the Regent’s Canal Conservation Area. All of the proposed buildings will also be faceted to reflect the radial shape of the former gasholders.
Interpretation boards will be provided within the public realm to inform those visiting the site about its historic use.
In this respect, our proposals are fully consistent with the adopted Tower Hamlets Local Plan which seeks to retain, reuse and enhance gasholders no.2 and no.5 alongside the provision of new homes, employment space and open space.
Illustrative image of the Regent’s Canal front and retained Gasholder Frames
St William believe that it is important for the site to accommodate a vibrant and varied mix of uses in addition to providing new private and affordable homes and public open space.
In total, the proposed development includes 4,182m² of flexible non-residential floorspace across a variety of different uses. These uses could include shops, cafés, restaurants, leisure and workspaces to supplement those already available in the local area.
The non-residential uses are accommodated at ground and basement levels to ensure easy access for all.
Illustrative image of active ground floor uses
Illustrative image of active canal front in the evening
The proposals include the provision of over 1.75 acres (0.71ha) of new publicly accessible open space including children’s play space, areas suitable for sports and recreation, a large central lawn and a new canal fronting public realm. The development will not be gated and will be open to all.
The proposed redevelopment will provide public access to the site for the first time in more than 150 years. In doing so, the proposal will significantly improve permeability and connectivity in the surrounding area by providing new pedestrian and cycle connections within the site.
Marian Place will be the primary point of access and the sole point of vehicular access. Additional cycle and pedestrian accesses are proposed from Emma Street to the south and Corbridge Crescent to the east (outside St William’s control).
The inclusion of new green spaces and additional ecology enhancing features such as biodiverse roofs and species rich planting will ensure that the project will deliver a net biodiversity gain.
Diagram of play and recreational spaces
Illustrative image of the central lawn
Illustrative image of children’s play space
Illustrative image of potential pop-up uses
St William have worked with Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (Architect) and Gillespies (Landscape Architect) to develop proposals of the highest design quality.
The proposals comprise five radially shaped buildings ranging in height from 6 to 13 storeys, two of which will be located within the existing frames of gasholders no.2 and no.5.
The proposals respond to the character of the Regent’s Canal Conservation Area through the use of colour and an industrial material palette. Distinct architecture, including the use of angular balconies and the expression of the building structure, is set amongst high quality and interesting public spaces.
Illustrative view of the site from towpath
St William pride ourselves on building with consideration to our neighbours and existing communities. We manage our operations on site to ensure that any potential disruptions are minimised.
We register all of our sites under the voluntary Considerate Constructors Scheme and its Code of Considerate Practice. In doing so, we commit to ensuring that we take pride in our appearance, respect our local communities, protect the environment, secure people’s safety and value our workforce.
St William will appoint a dedicated site manager whose contact details will be made available to local residents and their representatives. Regular updates will also be provided on the works’ progress.
St William focus exclusively on the redevelopment of former gasholder and gasworks sites. As such, we have extensive experience of successfully and safely remediated and redeveloping sites of this nature.
