29 July 2014
At least 50 custom build homes are set to form part of Britain’s first ‘floating village’ at London’s Royal Docks.
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The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, revealed that the Carillion Igloo Genesis consortium had won the competition to design and build it – transforming the 15 acres of water, at the Royal Victoria Dock site, into a thriving community of floating homes.
The winning consortium’s scheme includes a custom build approach for each of the 50 residential homes, however it is understood that there could be as many as 200, subject to demand.
The homes will be anchored in place using a series of piles located within the dock and connected to the dock by bridges. The construction of the homes including the bases will be carried out off-site and then transported by water to site.
The Mayor unveiled ambitious plans in February 2013 to create a ‘floating village’ as part of his on-going drive to transform London’s Royal Docks bringing homes back to the capital’s waterways.
Although a first for the UK, floating developments are already a popular idea on the continent with successful schemes at ljburg near Amsterdam and Hafen City in Hamburg as well as many others examples of floating homes throughout Scandinavia.
“This site has the potential to become one of the most sought after addresses in the capital while breathing new life back into London’s waterways,” said the Mayor. “Carillion Igloo Genesis’ scheme will create a unique mixed use development providing a range of commercial activities within a high quality water environment for Londoners and visitors, creating jobs and raising the profile of London’s Royal Docks,” he added.
Chris Brown, director of Carillion Igloo Genesis said: “Living in a floating home you’ve helped to design is a dream lots of us have. By combining the floating home experience of our Dutch collaborators with our custom built business we hope to make these dreams come true in Royal Victoria Dock for a few lucky Londoners. “
A planning application is expected to be submitted to Newham Council in Spring 2015.
