Plans to transform land surrounding City Hall into a vibrant new employment hub have been unveiled by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, marking the next major step in the regeneration of the
Royal Docks.
The Mayor and the London Assembly moved from their former London Bridge base into the Royal Docks City Hall building in 2022, a relocation that is saving £58 million and helping fund frontline services and economic growth initiatives across the capital.
City Hall’s shift east has also become a catalyst for large-scale redevelopment in the area. The Mayor aims to see more than 36,000 homes and 55,000 jobs created across this historic stretch of East London.
On Monday, Khan confirmed that the Greater London Authority is launching a search for partners to develop two significant sites neighbouring City Hall, with the goal of creating a cluster of modern workspace and cultural spaces.
The first site, Plot V, sits between the DLR rail line and the emerging Silvertown Tunnel. Covering half a hectare, the brownfield land is earmarked for around 15,000 square metres of employment-led development as part of the wider Thameside West masterplan.
The second opportunity is the “Flyunder” site – 0.7 hectares located beneath the Silvertown Way flyover. Officials believe the unusual space could become a major events venue and home to a range of community facilities and local improvements.
Speaking about the launch, Khan said the Royal Docks move mirrored the transformative effect City Hall once had on the London Bridge district.
“The sites close to City Hall offer a unique opportunity to build on this momentum – creating new spaces where people can work, businesses can grow and communities can thrive,” he said. “Bringing these sites to life will support local regeneration, create jobs and deliver lasting benefits for local people as we continue to build a better, fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.”
Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz welcomed the announcement, calling the Royal Docks a “hotbed of investment, innovation and opportunity”.
“Opening up and connecting these sites is key to delivering an inclusive and fairer Newham for present and future generations,” she said. “Working with the Mayor of London, we are setting a new standard in our vision for the Royal Docks as we turbocharge our ambitious plans with purpose and with local people.”
The development sites sit at the heart of a wave of major Royal Docks projects, including Thameside West, Silvertown Quays, Royal Wharf, Limmo Peninsula, the ADA Docklands Data Campus, Royal Albert Dock and the expansion of the ExCel centre.
Thameside West recently received significant investment from UAE developer Arada, unlocking plans for at least 5,000 homes alongside the new employment space at Plot V.
Both sites will also benefit from ongoing improvements along the Royal Docks Corridor, a joint initiative between City Hall and Newham Council aimed at upgrading transport routes from Canning Town to London City Airport. Photo by U.S. Embassy London, Wikimedia commons.