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Two years ago, Sadiq Khan announced that he would be putting a whopping £2bn over the next five years into giving the Royal Docks in east London a new lease of life. That has involved building a ‘thriving new high street’ along Silvertown Way and making the area the new home of City Hall. Now, there are plans to create a huge new floating hub on the docks.
Plans for Royal Victoria Dock West, drawn up by Royal Docks Waterways, envision it as ‘a distinctive new water-based destination’. It would take up a 12-hectare stretch of water and include creating new floating homes, a floating park and a floating wellness centre with a lido, sauna and spa experiences alongside free water access and open water swimming.
Current designs for the floating park, which would surround the IFS Cloud Cable Car terminal on the Royal Docks, propose biodiverse planting and space for art installations. The plans also point out that there’s opportunity for events programmes, art trails and cafes, kiosks or pop-ups.
As for the floating wellness hub, the centrepiece will be a lido. That will either be one heated 25m-long pool or two pools – one smaller pool heated to a higher temperature and one 25m at a lower temperature for lane swimmers. Around that pool, there would be amenities that could include a spa/sauna, wellness provision and food and drink providers.
The regeneration will also involve creating a ‘new waterside community’ through residential moorings and floating homes opposite the park. It’s hoped that the whole development will make the water more accessible, attract more visitors and bring the area to life through the ‘vibrant mix of uses’.
Now, Royal Docks Waterways is organising discussions with local stakeholders and residents to get their input on the vision. Then, the proposals will be developed further. If everything is proved, it’s hoped that early phases of construction will get going in 2030.
A total of £5bn has been set aside for the regeneration of the docks over the next 20 years. Mayor Sadiq Khan said that, once transformed, Royal Victoria Docks West will ‘become one of the city’s most exciting new public spaces’. He added: ‘I’m committed to transforming our waterways – cleaning them up, enabling wildlife to thrive and improving Londoners’ access to blue spaces across the city.
‘Royal Docks Waterways’ work will help to ensure that Londoners can experience clean and safe waterways and enjoy the benefits of spending time near water, helping to build a greener and fairer London for everyone.’
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