Millionaire eyes up millharbour site for residential tower

By John Hill on May 22, 2008 9:00 AM |

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MILLIONAIRE Michael Hunt is hoping to build a 227-unit two-tower development in Millharbour.

The Hove-based property magnate is bidding to construct the residential and retail project on the current site of a synagogue at 45 Millharbour.

The dockside scheme is within the Millennium Quarter tower cluster, and just across the water from the residential project being built on the London Arena site.

Mr Hunt's Hovedean Properties company has employed Millbank-based EPR Architects to design two conjoined L-shaped blocks with heights of six, 11, 16 and 22 storeys. Around 38 per cent of the units will be earmarked for affordable housing.

Around 670 square metres of commercial floor space will be located at ground level, as well as 1,815 square metres of public amenity space and 605 square metres of secure communal space including a children's play area.

Discussions have been ongoing with Tower Hamlets Council since 2005, but the Mayor of London's office sent the developer away to flesh out its proposal last year.

The 0.43 hectare site is currently occupied by a two-story metal clad office building, which is on a short-term lease to the Hearing Ministry as a base for the UK branch of the synagogue, Church of All Nations.

A spokesman for the church told The Wharf it had been aware of the plans for the site for some time, and was expecting to move in a few months.

He said: "We quite like the location here, but we're probably moving out of the Docklands area. We're looking into a more central London location."

You can view the application here.