UK: BTR developer and operator Get Living has secured a resolution to grant planning consent for up to 848 BTR and 504 PBSA units at its East Village neighbourhood in Stratford, London.
The plans — unanimously approved by London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) — will deliver homes ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments for rent at buildings N18 and N19, as well as a student building.
The approval of the proposals will kickstart the delivery of the final buildings at East Village, which was originally built as the athlete’s village for the 2012 Olympics. It is now home to 6,500 people with more than 30 independent retailers and 25 acres of public realm open to residents and the wider community.
Resident amenity spaces at N18 and N19 include a gym and wellbeing facilities, relaxation areas, as well as a dining event space for people to socialise.
Get Living has partnered with the London College of Fashion, part of University of the Arts London (UAL), for more than 50 of these new student homes. The student building — N16 — responds to the growing need for student housing in Newham.
The 504 student beds will help alleviate pressure on the wider rental market and responds to the recent addition of two universities, UCL and UAL, at the newly created East Bank development in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
More than a third (35 per cent) of the student beds will be affordable, adding to the affordable housing offer at East Village. N16 will connect into the Olympic Park heat network, which will provide significant carbon savings, aiming to achieve net zero.
Work is expected to begin on site in 2024 with Howells and TP Bennett as architects for the proposals, Cast Consultancy as the project manager, and Quod providing planning and development services.
Rick de Blaby, CEO at Get Living, said: “It is brilliant news that we have secured planning approval, enabling us to complete the vision that we set out to deliver in 2014 and to continue to play an important part in East London’s exciting growth journey. With world-leading universities expanding to East Bank, the student need in the area is high, and we’re looking forward to delivering a place for young people that is designed to foster creative enterprise. We hope that many of those students will choose to stay in the local area after graduating, becoming a part of Newham’s thriving local economy.”
Will Poole, partner at Howells, added: “We are delighted that these two significant projects have been approved by LLDC’s planning committee. With residential quality at the forefront, our designs aim to set a benchmark for high density, sustainable living. We are looking forward to working closely with Get Living, UAL and LLDC to deliver these exciting projects.”
