St William submit planning application for the development of Beckton Gasworks

St William Homes LLP, part of the Berkeley Group, has submitted a planning application for the development of approximately 2,900 homes that will form part of a new town for Beckton Riverside. Have your say as part of the public consultation.

The planning applications submitted for Beckton Gasworks represent an important milestone in bringing forward the first phase of development with approximately 2,900 new homes and 5,000 sqm of new retail and commercial floor space, accompanied by new community amenities, public realm, and a riverside park.

Beckton Gasworks forms part of an aspiration to deliver a new Town Centre at Beckton Riverside, as allocated in Newham Council’s Local Plan (2024 Regulation 19 Draft Newham Local Plan). The site also sits within the Royal Docks and Beckton Riverside Opportunity Area, one of largest regeneration areas in London.

Allocated for comprehensive residential-led, mixed-use redevelopment, Beckton Gasworks provides an opportunity to bring forward high-quality new homes, a mix of commercial and community uses, significant public realm improvements and access to the historic river frontage. Overall, this 12-hectare site owned by St William Homes LLP provides an opportunity for new homes and employment acting as a catalyst for regeneration in Beckton.

Beckton Gasworks was once the largest gasworks in Europe, employing 4,500 local people and supplying 4.5 million customers at its peak until closure in 1969. During its 100 years of operation, the site had its own railway system which connected to a series of Victorian piers that provide a prominent landmark on the river and still exist today. The site has more recently gained fame as an iconic setting for various film, TV, and music productions.

St William appointed architects and community planners JTP to facilitate community and stakeholder engagement in shaping a Vision for Beckton Gasworks (Phase 1). They have worked closely with the local community offering consultation events, heritage guided tours as part of Newham Heritage Month 2024, and conducted community workshops across the local area. The outcomes were further informed by earlier engagement commissioned by Newham Council for the wider Town Centre Beckton Riverside allocation. This culminated in a Beckton Riverside Community Planning Weekend, with the full reports and presentations available to view online.