Blackwall Yard, 
Poplar

Hadley's design team worked closely with Tower Hamlets Council, local residents and community groups to create and refine proposals for a mixed-use development at Blackwall Yard, in Poplar.

A short walk from East India DLR Station, Blackwall Yard will become a new riverside neighbourhood, regenerating what was previously an underused, concreted private car park.

The consented proposals will deliver 898 new homes (35% of which will be affordable housing), a two-form primary school, a community hub, spaces for a cafe, pub and grocery store, all built around a new public square and green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

At the heart of Blackwall Yard is the historic Grade II-listed graving dock, redeveloped into an outdoor swimming space and riverboat station. Also on the riverfront is a new pub and restaurant, with panoramic views across the Thames and docklands.

This section of the Thames Path, which has been closed for a number of years, will be reopened. The historic graving dock, filled in as the area's shipbuilding declined, will become an amphitheatre-style garden and an outdoor swimming pool, and new pedestrian and cycle routes will loop among the buildings and out to the riverfront.

The development's stretching environmental, economic and social value outcomes will actively contribute to Tower Hamlet's goal to be a green, safe and cohesive borough.

Tower Hamlet's Strategic Development Committee granted unanimous consent for the proposals in June 2021.

Our proposals include a new two-form primary school within the development, for young children in Poplar and the surrounding areas.

At the heart of Blackwall Yard is the historic Grade II-listed dock, redeveloped into an outdoor swimming space. Also on the riverfront is a new pub and restaurant, with panoramic views across the Thames and docklands.

The historic graving dock in front of the new community hub, which will foster sustainable travel with innovative shared mobility services for renting and storing low-carbon vehicles.

The pier will lead to a new riverbus station at Blackwall Yard, offering panoramic river views and a fast and frequent riverbus service for East London.

Public seating offering framed views over the Thames and to the O2 Arena, viewed from the newly-reopened Thames Path which was previously closed off to the public for almost 30 years.

Proposed view of a new public square