One project. Three big challenges.

Orchard Wharf on the Leamouth Peninsula sits at the centre of an emerging new neighbourhood in East London bringing together a unique mix of uses which each address a pressing London need.

A place for students

London is one of the most attractive destinations globally for higher education students, and the sector contributes significantly to the economy. However, there is a significant under-provision of reasonably priced accommodation for students, with a good range of amenities to support academic study. Orchard Wharf creates a new student village providing 1,365 rooms alongside exemplary amenities and study space, integrated within the wider community via a ground-level atrium hub and community café space, freely accessible to all.

Affordable homes

Responding to the huge demand for quality affordable housing in London, Orchard Wharf provides 208 high-quality homes focusing on larger-sized family units and a significant provision of doorstep playspace and outdoor green amenity space, all located in an exceptional position directly onto the river.

Sustainable distribution of goods

By reactivating a strategically significant wharf, the project provides a new model for moving goods within London, utilising zero emissions river freight vessels delivering to a flexible industrial volume from which “last mile” distribution will occur using small, all-electric vehicles.

A good neighbour

Orchard Wharf will build a new model where boundaries between family and student living are subtly overlapped and defined by careful landscaping above a new logistics warehouse and safeguarded wharf with exceptional Thames frontage and unimpeded panoramic views of the river for this new community.

The entrance hub on Orchard Place creates a shared-use space with a new community café, breaking down boundaries between the new student population and other residents and fronting onto the historic East India dock basin, now a site of importance for nature conservation.

We have had a long involvement with this part of London, from our project at London City Island, and it is great to be able to finally connect this piece of the new city in the east from Canning Town to Trinity Buoy Wharf with its mix of historic former industrial buildings and modern workspaces.