Next phase of millharbour development green-lit

By John Hill on March 14, 2008 11:31 AM |

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ISLE of Dogs residents will benefit from a new public park as part of a forthcoming Millharbour development.

Co-developers Oracle and Galliard Homes pledged the open space as part of their application for the second phase of the Indescon Court residential development.

The green area, to be known as Lightermans Gardens, will form part of 11,413 square metres of publicly-accessible ground floor amenities on the site. A 1,850 square metre child play area will also feature in the scheme.

The promise of an open park encouraged Tower Hamlets council's Strategic Development committee to give the go-ahead to the plan last Thursday (March 13). Officers described it as "a valuable piece of open space for the Island".

Phase Two of Indescon Court will feature a main tower ranging from 12 to 32 storeys and a 10-storey rotunda building. The new buildings will provide 546 residential units, a 120-bed three-star hotel, plus office and retail space. The development will be 95 metres at its highest point.

Oracle told The Wharf early this year that phase two of its £305million development would be "more of a family-friendly development". The newly-approved scheme will feature 14 four-bedroom, 147 three-bedroom and 125 two-bedroom units.

The committee approved the plan by four votes to one, with acting chair Helal Abbas not voting. The one vote against came from Blackwall and Cubitt Town councillor Tim Archer, who raised concerns about the size of 44 of the scheme's 173 one-bedroom units, which fall 1.2 square metres below council standard.

He said: "I think the amount of open space provided must be applauded. It will be a fantastic resource for the Isle of Dogs.
"My concern is that it may be too big and might become a noticeable marker building for the Isle of Dogs. I also worry that it may be too dense, and that some of the smaller units may become rabbit hutches."

View the officer's report on the development here.