Thameside West: £2.5bn Silvertown Regeneration Unveiled by Arada 2026

Key Points

• A Dubai-based property developer, Arada, has unveiled the first phase of a £2.5 billion regeneration scheme called Thameside West in Silvertown, east London.
• The 47-acre site at the western end of the Royal Docks will deliver around 5,000 homes, with 35 per cent designated as affordable housing.
• Half of the development area will be green space, including east London’s first major new riverfront park since 2000.
• The first phase includes six buildings, a new public park, and Arada has committed an additional £100 million investment.
• A proposed new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station, Thames Wharf, is being planned with a £9 million contribution from the developer.
• Global design firm Gensler is redesigning the first phase to meet the UK’s latest building safety and fire regulations.
• Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the first phase of 1,000 homes potentially complete by 2029 and the entire project finished by 2037.
• The development will include food, drink, and retail spaces, with Arada bringing its owned brands such as Tashas, Reformatory Lab, and Brooki’s.

Silvertown (East London Times) July 23, 2026 – What is the Thameside West regeneration project set to transform east London’s waterfront?The Thameside West development is a £2.5 billion regeneration scheme that will reshape a 47-acre site at the western end of the Royal Docks in Silvertown, facing The O2 arena in North Greenwich. As reported by the Evening Standard, the project is being led by Dubai-based property giant Arada, which has acquired an 80 per cent stake in the scheme. When complete, the development will deliver around 5,000 homes, with 35 per cent earmarked as affordable housing.

Half of the entire development area will be dedicated to green space, including what is set to become east London’s first major new riverfront park since 2000.

The first phase will see six buildings constructed alongside a new public park. Arada has also committed a further £100 million investment into the project.

How will the first phase of Thameside West be delivered?

According to coverage by the Evening Standard, the first phase of Thameside West will include six new buildings and a public park designed by landscape architects Planit. Part of the green space will be built directly above the recently completed Silvertown Tunnel, creating a landmark riverside destination for residents and visitors.

The project team has brought in global design and architecture firm Gensler to redesign the first phase of the scheme, ensuring the homes meet the UK’s latest building safety and fire regulations.

Arada is also working with Transport for London (TfL) on a proposed new Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station, Thames Wharf, which would be delivered in time for the arrival of the first residents.

The developer is expected to contribute £9 million towards the station, which would sit between Canning Town and West Silvertown and improve connections across the Royal Docks.

What are the timelines for construction and completion?

As reported by Time Out London, construction on Thameside West is expected to begin in 2027. The first phase, delivering 1,000 homes, could be complete by 2029, with the entire development finished by 2037.

At 47 acres, the Thameside West development will be one of Europe’s biggest new regeneration areas, spanning around 30 towers up to 25 storeys high.

What amenities and facilities will Thameside West include?

The development will reserve around 10 per cent of the land for food, drink, and retail spaces. Arada will bring some of its owned brands to open in the first phase, including a restaurant called Tashas, an Australian coffee shop called Reformatory Lab, and an Australian cookie concept called Brooki’s.

As previously reported by the Greater London Authority, the broader Thameside West masterplan includes over 19,000 sq m of new workspace, 7,000 sq m of retail and leisure usage, 5.7 acres of public open space, a new primary school, nursery, and other community facilities. The project also includes a kilometre-long Thameside walkway.

Who are the key stakeholders and partners?

The Thameside West project is being delivered through a partnership involving Arada, the Greater London Authority (GLA), and GLA Land & Property Ltd (GLAP). The original masterplan was designed by Foster + Partners, while the first phase has been redesigned by Gensler.

As reported by the London Assembly, the Mayor of London has launched a joint venture agreement that will see the GLA become a 50 per cent shareholder in The Silvertown Partnership, alongside Lendlease, a developer with expertise in complex urban regeneration projects.

The wider Royal Docks regeneration area has benefited from £233 million in infrastructure loan funding from Homes England.

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What is the affordable housing provision?

The development will deliver around 5,000 homes, with 35 per cent designated as affordable housing. As previously reported by the Evening Standard, just under a third of the homes in the original Thameside West scheme were ring-fenced for first-time buyers and renters who could not otherwise afford to live in the area.

Newham Council’s Planning Committee has approved a revised masterplan for Silvertown to include 30 per cent affordable housing, updating the original 2016 outline consent to reflect London’s housing, design, and sustainability priorities under current market conditions.

Background of the Thameside West Development

The Thameside West development has its origins in planning permission granted by Newham Council in 2021. The original masterplan was approved by the Deputy Mayor for Planning at a public hearing in 2020, with Jules Pipe granting consent for the high-density riverside development.

The site, which has been largely derelict for more than 40 years, is co-owned by the GLA and Keystone London.

The project forms part of the wider £5 billion regeneration of east London from Canning Town to North Woolwich, which will eventually be home to up to 50,000 Londoners.

In 2025, Dubai-based firm Arada paid £225 million to acquire an 80 per cent stake in the Thameside West waterfront scheme.

The injection of capital from Arada has enabled the project to move forward with construction expected to begin in 2027.

Prediction: How will Thameside West affect local residents and the east London housing market?

The Thameside West development is expected to have significant implications for local residents and the broader east London housing market.

The delivery of 5,000 new homes, with 35 per cent designated as affordable, will increase housing supply in an area that has seen substantial regeneration activity in recent years.

For local residents, the development will provide improved transport connections through the proposed new DLR station, Thames Wharf, which will sit between Canning Town and West Silvertown.

The creation of a new public park and riverside walkway will also enhance the quality of life for residents by providing green space and recreational opportunities.

The introduction of food, drink, and retail spaces, including Arada’s owned brands such as Tashas and Reformatory Lab, will create new amenities for the local community.

However, the scale of the development, with around 30 towers up to 25 storeys high, may raise concerns about density and the character of the local area.

For the east London housing market, Thameside West will add significant supply, which could help to moderate price growth in the area.

However, the development is positioned as a premium waterfront scheme, with views of The O2 arena and the Greenwich Peninsula, which may attract higher-income buyers and renters.

The project’s timeline, with completion expected by 2037, means that the full impact on the housing market will be felt over a prolonged period.

In the meantime, the first phase of 1,000 homes, potentially complete by 2029, will begin to shape the local area and set the tone for the wider regeneration.

The success of Thameside West will depend on the delivery of promised infrastructure, including the new DLR station and public park, as well as the ability of the developer to attract residents and businesses to the area.

If delivered as planned, the development could become a landmark regeneration project that transforms the western end of the Royal Docks and sets a precedent for future waterfront developments in east London.