The developer behind the regeneration of a former gasworks in east London has announced its intention to redesign the scheme, claiming that inflation and second-staircase regulations have made the original plans less viable.
Planning permission was granted to St William Homes (a member of the Berkeley Group) in July 2021 for a mixed-use scheme across 10 buildings ranging from 2 to 18 storeys, to be known as Lea Bridge Gasworks.
St William Homes is now proposing that the buildings range between 4 and 21 storeys in height and has stated its intention to resubmit a planning application in September. A contractor had not yet been announced for the scheme.
A notice shared online read: “Changing expectations for fire-safety measures, including the need for a second internal staircase on buildings over 30 metres tall, have resulted in us fully reviewing our approach to fire safety.”
The redrafted plans increase the number of homes from 573 to 670, of which 35 per cent would be priced affordably.
The new design also features a 50-place children’s nursery, a public art trail and additional play space.
The site was a functioning gasworks until 2012, when the gasholders were decommissioned.
Lea Bridge gasworks is not the only scheme in the area that has been rethought in the wake of new second-staircase regulations. The developers of a scheme surrounding Lea Bridge station have proposed increasing the height of the two tallest residential buildings by three storeys each, to 26 and 29 respectively.
