A brand new shipyard on the River Thames, the first in 300 years, is being proposed as part of an ambitious regeneration designed to counter the loss of creative and productive land use in London.
The site is being developed by London and Regional. LDA Design is working as landscape architects on the masterplan with lead Haworth Tompkins.
Albert Island is a 25-acre site in the Royal Docks – the capital’s only enterprise zone. Owned by the Mayor of London, and with a rich maritime heritage, it is a key part of the wider docks regeneration.
The £300 million development will include a state-of-the-art shipyard with Europe’s biggest ship lift to service and repair Thames riverboats, industrial units and a makers’ yard. Restoring full public access to the Island, it aims to attract a mix of businesses, supported by the development of a transport and engineering education hub, and an innovation and research quarter. The proposals also aim to restore and upgrade the marina to create a fully functioning mooring.
The Evening Standard’s Robert Bevan said that “Albert Island should be a welcome boost to those fighting to protect what’s left of industrial land in London.”
The vision for the landscape infrastructure and public realm is that it responds to the industrial and functional nature of the place, with its open double-height buildings.
The public realm will be inspired by historic dockyards and reinforce the site’s strong relationship with the river. A strong post-industrial landscape character will be maintained with maritime planting, and marine wildlife habitats safeguarded. The public realm will be well connected and easy for local residents to reach on foot and by bike.
