Ballymore has been given the green light by Newham Council for a major 1,700-home riverside development in Silvertown, east London, marking another significant step in the regeneration of the Royal Docks. The 5.26ha Knights Road scheme, designed by Allies and Morrison, will transform a Docklands site south of London City
Prescient Capital has secured funding to deliver a new £60m office development in Leeds, bringing forward one of the city’s most prominent new commercial schemes. The developer’s 31 Wellington Street project will replace the former Wellington Plaza building, which has now been demolished. The site sits opposite Wellington Place, in
Hammerson has secured outline planning consent for a major purpose built student accommodation scheme in Bristol, marking a significant step forward in the redevelopment of a key city centre site. The approval from Bristol City Council will enable the transformation of underutilised land at Cabot Gate, located adjacent to the
Ballymore has been given the green light by Newham Council for a major 1,700-home riverside development in Silvertown, east London, marking another significant step in the regeneration of the Royal Docks. The 5.26ha Knights Road scheme, designed by Allies and Morrison, will transform a Docklands site south of London City Airport. The land sits between North Woolwich Road, the River Thames, Lyle Park and neighbouring industrial plots, close to West Silvertown DLR station. The plans include 334 affordable homes, alongside new workspace, retail space and community uses. A first phase has detailed consent for around 640 homes in three buildings ranging from six to 18 storeys, with about 2,300 sq m of flexible commercial space. Outline permission covers the remainder of the site, allowing the wider neighbourhood to be built out over time. The development is intended to play a key role in regenerating this part of Silvertown, bringing new homes, jobs and public spaces to an area that has long been shaped by industrial uses and underused riverside land. It will also fund major improvements to Lyle Park, the 4.5-acre riverside green space gifted to the community by Abram Lyle of Tate & Lyle 100 years ago. Flood defences along the Thames will also be upgraded. The scale of the project means the application must now be referred to the Mayor of London for final sign-off before it can move forward. For Ballymore, the approval underlines its continued focus on large mixed-use regeneration schemes in London in 2026. The developer is already closely associated with major capital projects, including schemes in the Docklands and east London, and Knights Road adds to its pipeline of high-density, waterside developments. Ballymore is expected to continue detailed design work before starting the first phase on site in early 2028. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Prescient Capital has secured funding to deliver a new £60m office development in Leeds, bringing forward one of the city’s most prominent new commercial schemes. The developer’s 31 Wellington Street project will replace the former Wellington Plaza building, which has now been demolished. The site sits opposite Wellington Place, in the heart of Leeds’ West End business district. Commercial property investment company BGO has provided a £27m loan to support the development of the new nine-storey building. The scheme will deliver 80,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and is expected to be ready for occupation by the end of next year. Work has already started on site, making 31 Wellington Street one of the few new office projects in Leeds with live construction and a clear delivery date. The scheme is being developed speculatively, reflecting confidence in the city’s office market and the demand for high-quality workspace. Prescient Capital said the backing from BGO was a major vote of confidence in both Leeds and the project. The company said there is already strong interest in at least two floors of the building, while Prescient itself plans to occupy one of the ground-floor units. The development comes at a time when Leeds is facing a shortage of new, high-quality office space. Agents for the scheme said demand for modern, well-located offices remains strong, with rents at 31 Wellington Street being quoted at £55 per sq ft. The building is expected to strengthen the professional core of the West End of Leeds, an area that has seen significant investment and growth in recent years. Its location opposite Wellington Place places it close to major employers, transport links, restaurants and amenities. Knight Frank, Fox Lloyd Jones and AC7 have been appointed to market the building, with office floorplates available from 3,000 sq ft. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hammerson has secured outline planning consent for a major purpose built student accommodation scheme in Bristol, marking a significant step forward in the redevelopment of a key city centre site. The approval from Bristol City Council will enable the transformation of underutilised land at Cabot Gate, located adjacent to the Cabot Circus estate. The proposals allow for the delivery of up to 600 student accommodation units, alongside new public realm and community focused spaces, subject to detailed design and reserved matters approval. The scheme forms part of Hammerson’s wider strategy to unlock value from its landholdings while enhancing the quality and connectivity of its urban assets. Positioned at one of Bristol’s principal gateway locations, the development is expected to play an important role in strengthening links between surrounding neighbourhoods and the city centre. In addition to student accommodation, the outline plans include the creation of new green spaces, improved pedestrian and cycle routes and a multi purpose community pavilion. These elements are designed to support placemaking objectives and deliver a more integrated and accessible urban environment. The planning consent follows an extensive period of public consultation and engagement with local stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the council’s broader vision for the city. The project also builds on Hammerson’s ongoing investment in Bristol, including enhancement works at Quakers Friars and the continued repositioning of Cabot Circus as a leading retail and leisure destination in the South West. Jonatan Carlring, development director at Hammerson, described the approval as a key milestone for the site, highlighting the collaborative approach taken with the local authority and community. He noted that the scheme will deliver much needed accommodation while improving connectivity and creating high quality public spaces. The Cabot Gate development reflects the continued growth of the student accommodation sector in major regional cities, where demand remains strong and well located schemes are increasingly being integrated into wider mixed use regeneration strategies. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals