Mastmaker Court set for two residential towers as plans approved

Central Isle Of Dogs site will see two warehouses demolished to make way for co-living and affordable housing blocks from Pirin and Fifth State

An artist's impression of the two towers that are set to be built on the Mastmaker Court site - image by Fifth State — An artist’s impression of the two towers that are set to be built on the Mastmaker Court site – image by Fifth State

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what’s happening?

A sizeable chunk of the centre of the Isle Of Dogs is set to be developed following the approval of a planning application by Tower Hamlets Council.

Mastmaker Court, a joint venture by landowner Pirin Ltd and developer Fifth State, will see two towers built on a site just off Mastmaker Road.

two towers?

That’s right. One will rise to 43 storeys and the other to 27. The larger one will contain 843 co-living apartments, while the other will house 153 affordable homes.

They have been designed by Squire And Partners architects, also known for Landmark Pinnacle locally.

The scheme includes landscaping at ground level - image by Fifth State — The scheme includes landscaping at ground level – image by Fifth State

co-living?

Essentially the larger block will be rental only following a wider trend in the residential development market.

The offer is typically self-contained flats with communal facilities to encourage socialising.

These are usually marketed to young professionals and key workers.

While Fifth State has built out a couple of office blocks in Shoreditch, its projects in Bermondsey, Hampstead, Croydon, Southwark, Deptford, Hornsey and Leicester Square – spanning co-living student accommodation and affordable housing – have yet to be completed.

Its website promises that accommodation includes a shower room, a kitchenette, a double bed, storage space, high speed broadband and flexibility on length of stay with a three-month minimum.

While details of its Mastmaker Court scheme have yet to be released, the company says its projects include wellbeing studios and facilities with a programme of classes and events for residents such as seminars and debates, cooking classes, brunch and supper clubs, guided group meditation, circuit and weights workouts and more.

co-working?

Again, while specifics have not been released, Fifth State says co-creating spaces lie at the heart of its schemes with facilities such as artists studios, private desks, communal workspaces, recording studios and conference walls to be expected.

The scheme features Squire And Partners - image by Fifth State — The scheme features Squire And Partners – image by Fifth State

what about the affordable housing?

For its Isle Of Dogs scheme, the affordable tower will house 121 properties for social rent and 32 earmarked as intermediate homes, which may be offered as below market rent or shared ownership apartments.

Around two thirds of the social rent flats will have three or four bedrooms aimed at families.

a new school?

Two existing warehouse buildings will be knocked down to make way for the towers.

At ground level the affordable housing block will include a 161sq m community facility facing onto a new 1,500sq m park located in the south-west corner of the site.

The plans also include outline permission for a new alternative provision school for up to 100 pupils in the north-west corner of the site, which could deliver up to 4,510sq m of educational space.