Silvertown £100m City Hall boost for 7,000 homes Royal Docks 2026

Key Points

• City Hall has announced a £100 million investment to support the delivery of 7,000 new homes at Silvertown in the Royal Docks, east London.
• Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan described the move as part of a new “Singapore-style” housing delivery model, with City Hall taking a direct developer role.
• The GLA will become a 50 per cent shareholder in The Silvertown Partnership alongside Lendlease and the Crown Estate.
• Around 1,000 of the new homes are expected to be under construction by 2028, with more than half of the first phase designated as affordable housing.
• The revised masterplan for Silvertown, approved by Newham Council’s planning committee, includes 30 per cent affordable housing across the scheme.
• The project has already benefited from £233 million in infrastructure loan funding from Homes England.
• Silvertown will ultimately deliver close to 7,000 homes, next-generation workspace, restored heritage buildings including Millennium Mills, and new community facilities.

Silvertown (East London Times) July 11, 2026 –Silvertown, a 60-acre site in the Royal Docks that has been largely derelict for more than 40 years, is set to undergo one of London’s largest urban redevelopment projects following a £100 million investment from City Hall. As reported by ITV News London, Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan announced that City Hall will join the Silvertown Partnership to support the delivery of 7,000 new homes in the Royal Docks in east London.

The investment is part of a new City Hall developer scheme modelled on Singapore’s approach to housing development, in which the state plays a central role by building 80 per cent of homes and owning most of the land. Sir Sadiq said he hoped the initiative would allow City Hall to become an active developer in more sites across the capital, to help maximise affordable housing delivery.

“I’m proud to be investing £100 million, one of the largest investments made by any mayor of London, to help build and deliver thousands of new, high-quality and affordable homes at Silvertown,” the mayor said, according to ITV News London.

“This is a new era for housebuilding in London, with City Hall investing directly in new homes, unblocking stalled sites and speeding up development.”

How many homes will be built and what proportion will be affordable?

According to the Mayor of London Homes website, the Silvertown scheme will deliver 7,079 new homes in total, including 1,855 affordable homes.

The first phase of development will deliver 1,032 homes, with more than half of those homes designated as affordable housing.mayoroflondonhomes.

Newham Council’s Planning Committee has approved a revised masterplan for Silvertown to include 30 per cent affordable housing.

As reported by the Newham Citizen, a minimum of 26.38 per cent of the new homes will be designated as ‘affordable’ housing, of which 60 per cent would be for social rent and 40 per cent for ‘intermediate’ schemes such as shared ownership.

About 1,000 of the new homes are expected to be under construction by 2028. The project has already benefited from £233 million in infrastructure loan funding from Homes England to unlock the site’s potential.

Who are the key partners in the Silvertown regeneration?

The joint venture agreement announced by City Hall will see the GLA become a 50 per cent shareholder in The Silvertown Partnership – the organisation responsible for redeveloping the area – alongside Lendlease, a developer with proven expertise in complex urban and regeneration projects.

As reported by Property Week, Lendlease has secured planning approval for its revised 7,000-home Silvertown masterplan at the Royal Docks in east London.

The Greenwich Wire reported that updated plans for more than 7,000 new homes in the Royal Docks have been approved, including the redevelopment of Millennium Mills into residential and commercial space.

Delivered in partnership with the GLA, Homes England, the Royal Docks and the London Borough of Newham, the project aims to transform the site into a mixed-use development with housing, workspace, and community facilities.

What new infrastructure and community facilities are planned for Silvertown?

Set on a 60-acre site that has been largely derelict for more than 40 years, Silvertown will ultimately deliver close to 7,000 homes, next-generation workspace, restored heritage buildings including Millennium Mills, and a lively destination with shops, restaurants, cultural venues and an activated dockside.

Plans for a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the Royal Docks are also moving forward, helping Silvertown become one of London’s best-connected and most inclusive new neighbourhoods, according to Lendlease.

Silvertown will have a total of 7 million sq ft of residential and commercial space, public parks and improved access to the water including the new Silvertown Bridge. The development will also include a primary school, leisure facilities, shops and restaurants.

What is the background of the Silvertown development?

The Silvertown regeneration scheme has been in development for several years, with the site identified as a key opportunity for housing delivery in east London.

The area, which has been largely vacant for 40 years, is located in the Royal Docks enterprise zone and has been the subject of multiple planning applications and approvals.

Homes England previously pledged £233 million of infrastructure loan funding towards the scheme, which was described as a major east London redevelopment.

The revised masterplan was approved by Newham Council’s planning committee in December 2025, paving the way for the delivery of nearly 7,000 homes.

The project has faced delays and revisions over the years, but the recent approval of the revised masterplan and the £100 million investment from City Hall represent significant milestones in the scheme’s progression.

What are the predictions for how this development will affect local residents and London’s housing market?

The Silvertown regeneration is expected to have significant implications for local residents in east London and the broader London housing market.

With 7,000 new homes, including a substantial proportion of affordable housing, the scheme could help address the chronic shortage of affordable homes in the capital.

For local residents in Newham and the Royal Docks area, the development could provide new housing opportunities, improved infrastructure, and enhanced community facilities.

The inclusion of a primary school, leisure facilities, and improved transport connectivity through the new pedestrian bridge could make the area more attractive for families and young professionals.

However, the scale of the development also raises questions about the impact on local infrastructure and services.

The addition of 7,000 homes will bring thousands of new residents to the area, which could put pressure on existing transport links, schools, and healthcare facilities.

From a housing market perspective, the “Singapore-style” model of direct City Hall involvement in development could signal a shift in how affordable housing is delivered in London.

If successful, this approach could be replicated at other sites across the capital, potentially accelerating the delivery of affordable homes and changing the dynamics of London’s housing market.

The success of the Silvertown scheme will depend on effective delivery of the promised affordable housing, timely completion of infrastructure, and integration with the local community.

With construction expected to begin in 2026 and the first homes under way by 2028, the coming years will be critical in determining whether the scheme meets its ambitious targets.