Spotlight on...helix-london, trafalgar way, poplar

Helix-London would feature two towers of 34 and 28 storeys, situated on top of a seven metre podium. A fenced-off play area is earmarked for the Billingsgate market end of the site.

It is a joint project by McDonald's Real Estate and Trafalgar Way Ltd, a collaboration between Brooksplace and SB2 Property Ventures.

The development is a mix of one to three bedroom apartments. Many residents will also be able to enjoy views of Poplar Dock and Canary Wharf from "sky garden" balconies between the towers.

The application is expected to appear before the council's planning board in June or July. If expected, developers hope to be on site by 2009. The three-to-four year project may be finished in 2012, but could be pushed back if pre-Olympic construction costs become too high.

Key features include a three-level cycle parking area behind the play area, with room for 141 bikes. Up to 60 cars can be accommodated in a state-of-the-art "automatic valet" parking system. Motorists simply place the car on a plate, press a button, and the car is automatically shelved in a two-floor network of underground spaces. Similar schemes have reportedly been tested in Germany.

Architect Make responded to comments by neighbours at two previous exhibitions in Poplar last year. Residents were keen to see convenience stores on site, and were unimpressed by plans for a multi-use sports area. This has now been converted to a children's play area.

Co-developer Brooksplace's director John Kerr said: "The play area would feature soft foam islands coloured in blue and yellow, so the children can jump between them. It's a fun idea."

Mindful of the building's proximity to Aspen Way and the A13 to the north, many of the windows will face away from the busy road. Trafalgar Ltd are also keen to improve pedestrian conditions on Trafalgar Way, with wider, tree-lined lanes and a raised stretch of road to slow traffic.

The developer is also keen to chip in on plans to create pedestrian routes over the Aspen Way roundabout, allowing locals to avoid the crime-plagued underpass route. Recent statistics suggest a violent attack takes place every 37 days in the cut-through.

A plan has been mooted whereby pedestrians can walk over designated crossing points across the roundabout. Ballymore pledged £1.5million towards eastern crossing points as part of the final stage of its New Providence Wharf scheme last month. Trafalgar Way Ltd are interested in funding the western section if it is allowed to reduce its on-site affordable housing provision.

Brooksplace's John Kerr said: "The whole idea is to make the underpass redundant, thus resolving the security issue and making people feel safer. You'd then be able to cover over the underpass space and use it for community purposes.
"There's nothing to say that you couldn't create a skate park or a five-a-side football space under there."

An exhibition of the plans will continue at the Reebok Sports Gym in Canada Square from 10am to 1pm tomorrow (Saturday March 8). You can view the planning application in full here.