Planning permission has been granted for SEGRO Park Wapping, a new Industrial Intensification scheme that takes inspiration from Wapping’s rich and diverse heritage. The 95,000 sqft development addresses London’s growing need for high-quality industrial space, with a design rooted in the area’s vibrant history and character.

The scheme reflects Wapping’s transformation from conflict to collaboration, celebrating the harmonious blend of art, architecture, landscape, and industry. Through extensive consultation, it respects and enhances the site’s biodiversity, urban fabric, and local community.

Our close collaboration with SEGRO refined the design, delivering innovative, flexible, and low-carbon industrial and office space options for occupiers. The project will inject significant investment into East London, supporting over 150 jobs and driving enterprise, employment, and growth.

Collaboration and inclusivity

Wapping’s evolution, from a marshy settlement to a port and cultural hub with a rich built heritage and vibrant art scene, shaped our design approach. Collaboration with stakeholders and communities ensured the designs addressed local needs, with consultations involving the project team, wider stakeholders, and specialists in relevant areas such as deconstruction and reconstruction, and exploring and educating about circular design principles. Digital and in-person outreach maximised inclusivity and aligned with Tower Hamlets’ engagement goals.

Layering in history

The architectural design honours Wapping’s heritage, echoing layers of riverbank and built environment history. Modular elevations feature varied materials such as coloured bricks, timber, and greenery for visual interest. Saw-tooth roof profiles recall traditional industrial buildings, providing natural light and hosting photovoltaic arrays. Building ends will showcase community artwork celebrating local talent.

A circular approach

Targeting BREEAM Excellent certification, the scheme minimises carbon emissions, using a fabric-first approach and on-site energy generation with battery storage. Our Thrive team of sustainability experts guided the use of healthier, low-carbon materials, with a focus on circular economy principles and reclaimed materials like steel and bricks.

Renewing biodiversity

Inspired by Wapping’s Saxon riverside origins, the scheme enhances local biodiversity with extensive planting of trees, flowers, and shrubs. These measures improve visual appeal, foster wellbeing, and support the local ecosystem.

Furthering Industrial Intensification

SEGRO Park Wapping is a prime example of how, with the right approach, Industrial Intensification projects can be sympathetic to their environment and true to the pre-established residential and community developments that surround them.

It is a thoughtfully designed development that blends seamlessly with its historical, cultural, community and physical contexts, and contributes to local sustainability and biodiversity, wellbeing and community engagement, and economic vitality.

Laurie Chetwood, Chairman of Chetwoods, commented: “SEGRO Park Wapping has been designed as a celebration of the local area’s colourful past, vibrant present and promising future. With the region’s industrial heritage, the scheme is a continuation of tradition, yet in a modern and diverse way that also lauds the unique characteristics of Wapping today, such as the thriving artistic hubs within the community. It’s been a pleasure to work with the SEGRO team on this project, which honours the collaboration between art, architecture, landscape and industrial.”

Bonnie Minshull, Head of London at SEGRO, said: “The flight-to-quality trend continues to accelerate, with occupiers becoming increasingly particular with their demands for flexible, efficient and green workspace in central urban locations, in the heart of the economies and communities they serve. SEGRO Park Wapping is our next generation of inner urban warehousing, raising the bar on sustainability and innovation, and being designed to complement a modern city environment in a high-demand central London location.”

‍

‍