Changes for City Pride and Island Point

Glenkerrin snapped up the site of the City Pride pub for £32 million from Oracle earlier this year, making it the most expensive pub in the UK. Architect Foster and Partners were signed up to help create plans for a 209 metre tower, with a 14-storey podium hotel providing 209 bedrooms and 18 serviced apartments.

It withdrew its application this week, and resubmitted a revised scheme which will see the hotel drop to nine storeys, and provide six less hotel rooms.

The decision has reportedly been made to increase the space available between the Pride development and other neighbours in the cluster to the west of the estate, including the recently-approved Newfoundland hotel development. Canary Wharf Group subsidiary South Quay Properties was granted council permission last month to start work on the 150-room scheme, which would also feature 78 serviced apartments.

Changes have also been made to Island Point, the 189-home scheme earmarked for 443-451 Westferry Road.

While the size and unit number remain the same, Glenkerrin will use different materials in the construction process. The amount of timber to be used in the development will be reduced, rendered facades will be replaced with terracotta panels and more brick will be used in the town houses on site.

Glenkerrin claims the alterations were made in response to comments from local residents and the council.

Neighbours have expressed reservations about the project over the last year, and a previous 337-unit application for the site was withdrawn after resident outrage and a luke-warm response from the council. Much of the affordable housing for the two developments will be located at Island Point, but Glenkerrin has not yet made a decision on a Residential Social Landlord for the site.

The two applications have been linked by the developer, who expects both to be heard by Tower Hamlets Council early next year.