Arada Accelerates £2.5bn Thameside West, Targeting a 2028 Start on 5,000 Homes at London's Royal Docks

One of London's largest waterfront regeneration opportunities has moved a step closer to delivery. Dubai-based master developer Arada has set out first-phase plans for its £2.5bn Thameside West scheme in the Royal Docks, confirming a professional team and targeting a construction start in early 2028 on a site that carries consent for at least 5,000 new homes. ## What has been announced

Arada has accelerated its plans for Thameside West and named the team that will progress the opening stage of the development. The developer has confirmed architect Gensler, engineer Arup and landscape designer Planit are leading the professional team on the opening phase of the 5,000-home waterfront scheme, and aims to submit a planning application later this summer for the first stage, which will deliver 1,500 homes across six buildings.

The wider site is substantial. The 47-acre brownfield site occupies central London's longest undeveloped stretch of riverfront, with views across Canary Wharf and the Greenwich Peninsula. The development will reshape a site at the western end of the Royal Docks in Silvertown, facing The O2 arena in North Greenwich.

Existing outline planning permission allows for at least 5,000 homes, including 35% affordable housing, alongside a kilometre of publicly accessible waterfront.

Construction Enquirer, 2026

Scale, affordable housing and green space

The consented masterplan sets out an ambitious mix of homes, public realm and open space. Existing outline planning permission allows for at least 5,000 homes, including 35% affordable housing, alongside a kilometre of publicly accessible waterfront and green space covering around half the site.

The green offer is notable for the area. Half of the entire development area will be dedicated to green space, including what is set to become east London's first major new riverfront park since 2000.

Public and private partnership

The project brings together the developer with the capital's public bodies. The scheme is being delivered in partnership with the Greater London Authority's property company GLAP and forms a key part of the wider Royal Docks regeneration programme, where more than 36,000 homes and 55,000 jobs are planned over the next 20 years.

Arada took its stake relatively recently. Arada agreed to acquire an 80% stake in the 47-acre Thameside West scheme from Keystone in November 2025. Foster and Partners' designs for the wider masterplan dedicate almost half the site to green space alongside 1km of waterfront.

Transport and connectivity

A key element of the plan is new public infrastructure. Arada is heavily engaged in working with Transport for London on a new DLR station, a major piece of public infrastructure, which it is intended will open in time for the arrival of the site's first residents. The DLR is one of the UK's busiest light rail routes, with 97.8 million passenger journeys recorded during the year ended March 2025.

The site's wider connectivity is a defining feature. Thameside West benefits from the recently completed Silvertown Tunnel, Custom House station on the Elizabeth, Jubilee and DLR lines, City Airport, and the IFS Cable Car.

With a planning application due over the summer and a start on site targeted for early 2028, Thameside West adds to a growing pipeline of large brownfield regeneration in East London. For investors tracking the capital's development landscape, the Royal Docks remains one of the areas to watch as public and private partners bring long-dormant riverfront land forward. Silkwood Group will continue to follow how these landmark schemes progress through planning and delivery.

Sources

• • Construction Enquirer, '5000-home Royal Docks mega scheme set for 2028 start'
• • Arada, 'Arada accelerates Thameside West with key appointments for first phase'
• • Royal Docks (GLA), 'Royal Docks development at Thameside West secures large-scale investment'