For those house hunting in 2025, a development in Royal Docks is offering a potent incentive to swap renting for a foot on the ladder.
Prospective buyers reserving a shared ownership home at East River Wharf before midnight on March 20, 2025, can get a boost to their deposit of up to £8,000.
The 5% contribution comes in the form of a one-off deduction when the purchaser completes on the deal and is only available on deals to buy 25% of a property at the scheme.
For example, a quarter of an apartment with a full market value of £500,000 would be £125,000, making the available boost to the buyer £6,250 – potentially equivalent to the deposit necessary to secure a 95% mortgage on that property.
Legal And General Affordable Homes, which is marketing the properties at East River Wharf, is set to host an open day on January 18, 2025, for those interested in accessing the incentive.
Prices for a one-bedroom home at East River Wharf start at £96,875 for a 25% share and come with a wide range of facilities and benefits.
The properties form part of Riverscape – essentially an extension of Ballymore and Oxley’s extensive Royal Wharf development on the banks of the Thames at Silvertown – meaning East River Wharf residents are able to access those schemes’ amenities.
These include a health club, the Sky Lounge with views over the Thames to Greenwich Peninsula and Canary Wharf, a concierge service, 24-hour security and a high street with shops, cafés and restaurants.
Shared ownership buyers also get a three-year ZipCar membership with £50 of driving credit when they move in.
Each apartment at East River Wharf has private outdoor space
a wealth of amenities
A spokesperson for Legal And General Affordable Homes said: “The amenities at East River Wharf are best in class, with a state-of-the-art residents’ gym, pool and spa.
“Plus, concierge services and 24-hour security ensure our residents always feel at home.
“There is also a primary school located on the development, which is perfect for growing families.
“Whatever your stage in life, East River Wharf is a modern and secure place to call home with shared ownership.”
The apartments themselves are located on the edge of Lyle Park, which recently celebrated its centenary with a spruce up and the installation of a commemorative mosaic.
They feature open-plan design, fully fitted kitchens with integrated Siemens appliances, tiled bathrooms, free standing Beko washer-dryers and private balconies.
The entry-level one-bed extends to some 538sq ft with a full market value of £387,500.
At the other end of the scale, a three-bed worth £650,000 stretches to 934sq ft on the tenth floor, with a 25% share costing £162,500.
Homes at East River Wharf start at £96,875 for a 25% share
connected up: East River Wharf
Transport connections nearby are excellent with the DLR offering rapid links to Canary Wharf, London City Airport and beyond.
Shared ownership allows buyers to get on the ladder with a smaller deposit than if they were buying a home outright by allowing them to purchase typically 25% of a home.
For the entry level property at East River Wharf, for instance, a deposit of £4,844 could be enough to secure a 95% mortgage on the £96,875 price.
Buyers then pay rent on the unowned portion of the property, the mortgage on their portion of it and the service charge.
This usually works out cheaper than renting a comparable home in the same area.
Those who own a share can also choose to increase their stake in a property over time – a process known as staircasing – until they own the whole thing, or can sell their portion should they wish to move.
The view from the Sky Lounge at Riverscape
key details: East River Wharf
The open day at East River Wharf is set to take place on January 18, 2025, from 10am to 4pm at the development’s Sky Lounge.
“I’m still so passionate about it, 20 years after we started,” said Natasha Hart. “NASSA is one big family – once you set foot in there, you don’t want to come out.
“We have volunteers who started with us when their children were small – they’ve grown up and left, but their parents are still helping out.
“The young people who have been through our hands stay in touch, even two decades later.”
This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the day Natasha took her two sons to Balaam Park in east London to teach them basketball, offering to make it a weekly treat.
They invited their friends, word got round and soon she was coaching groups of more than 30 kids.
The demand was there.
With £20 in the bank she registered Newham All Start Sports Academy (NASSA) as a charity and never looked back.
In 2008, her son, Anthony Okereafor, launched NASSA’s Carry A Basketball Not A Blade campaign in response to the fatal stabbings of two of his friends within weeks of each other.
Its work, tackling knife crime and gang culture, while breaking down barriers between youngsters and the Metropolitan Police, has seen more than 100,000 young people aged 10-18 attend its sessions.
In that time NASSA’s teams have also won league titles, its initiatives have been recognised with a multitude of awards and Natasha has received an MBE as its CEO.
But the demand for the charity’s blend of sports and education is unrelenting.
The pandemic and cost of living crisis have taken their toll and its work is sorely needed because it’s ultimately about more than a child learning the discipline of sport – it’s in the business of creating community.
NASSA is celebrating 20 years of work in Newham in 2025
addressing a need
“NASSA is always attracting young people,” said Natasha.
“Some want to meet new friends, some want to play sports, some want to be away from something and others want to progress and develop.
“We are always learning from them because it’s not only about the child.
“They’re a brother, a sister, a son or a daughter.
“Once the young person trusts us we find the whole family joins in.
“From a single session they get involved and the ball starts rolling – we’ll be asking how are they doing in school, what life is like – then after a few weeks you build that trust.”
Those relationships allow the charity to help address a wide range of issues facing those living locally.
It works to tackle domestic violence, addiction and unhealthy peer pressure and knife crime through a blend of mentoring, coaching, support and education.
“If we can find a solution to a problem then we will, or we can refer people on to specialists who can help,” said Natasha.
“We always want to be growing as a charity, to reach more people and embrace new ideas. For example, when we first started our workshops with the police, the relationship with young people was poor.
“Now each year we play a friendly game with serving officers and that builds trust – the young people can see they are human and that they play basketball, which is so important because they are the people you need to call when you’re in trouble.”
The charity addresses a wide range of issues through its programmes
NASSA: creating community
Over its first two decades NASSA has been successful in securing support from the likes of Excel, Tate And Lyle, UEL, Sport England, L&Q, London City Airport, the Mayor Of London, Newham Council, the Royal Docks Team and Basketball England.
“We’ve been very lucky with the supporters we have, the volunteers, the coaches and the sponsors who all enable us to deliver,” said Natasha.
“We have a rich history with what we’ve done in this community and a great track record in helping change and save the lives of people in this part of London.
“That we are able to do this is very satisfying for all those involved with the charity whether it’s our sponsors, our staff or me.”
To mark its 20th year, NASSA is planning a renewed focus on generating funds for its activities, with an ambition to roll out its mission to other parts of the capital.
A fundraising event is set to be held in June at Brick Lane Music Hall in Royal Docks as a celebration of the charity’s anniversary to help spread the word about the work its doing and offer businesses and individuals new ways to get involved in its activities.
“We want the event to help us reach new supporters and a new audience and for them to be able to come together with our existing sponsors,” said Natasha.
“It’s an opportunity for us to showcase what we have done over the past 20 years and what we are going to do in the future.
“We know we have expertise and I would love us to be able to roll that out to the surrounding boroughs.
“With knife crime the way it is in London, our work is needed more and more and I believe this is a model that could work across the city, helping to save more young people’s lives.”
Aspirational: NASSA uses the discipline of sport to effect change in young lives
key details: NASSA
NASSA, based in Royal Docks, is always looking for support from volunteers, businesses and organisations to help deliver its sport and education programmes.
Full details of NASSA’s fundraising event in June will be published in due course.
If you or your company think you could help in any way by providing resources or funding, you can contact the charity here
Venture to the banks of the Thames in Royal Docks and, on a patch of land close to Tate & Lyle’s North Woolwich factory, you’ll find a small forest of logs and tree stumps arranged behind a shipping container.
But this collection of offcuts isn’t a pile of unwanted timber, dumped by an unscrupulous tree surgeon.
It’s the raw material from which two interrelated businesses have emerged.
Steve Nyman knows the power of an image.
Bitten early by the photography bug he was “obsessed with the camera” as a schoolboy, turning that passion into a successful shooting career in the fashion sector that’s taken him all over the world working with models and brands.
However, there was also an underlying desire to explore creativity beyond the lens.
“During the pandemic, I was just sitting there and thinking,” he said.
“I’d always been good at sourcing locations – I guess I’ve got a sense for an aesthetic and an eye for design.
“I love nature and it was on a trip to Thailand that I found inspiration.
“There was this piece of driftwood on a beach that just looked like a coffee table – I wanted to take it home and regretted leaving it behind, although I did bring back an amazing shell.
“I thought that if I could find these kinds of pieces of wood and work with them in England, then that’s what I’d like to do.
Steve Nyman of Our Urban Oasis and Hidden Gems Design, surrounded by the raw material he works with
“By chance, I met a guy with a woodworking shop at Thames-Side Studios in Woolwich where I was based.
“I approached him with some of my ideas and designs, started working in his workshop and learnt a lot from him as he turned them into a reality.
“We use pieces of natural wood that would otherwise be burnt or end up in the chipper to create pieces of furniture and sculptures.
“We reclaim them from tree surgeons and give them a new lease of life.
“It’s very sustainable because we’re saving this material from going to waste.
“If it wasn’t for someone making something out of a fallen tree, it would be burned.”
The furniture at Our Urban Oasis comes from Hidden Gems Design
creating Our Urban Oasis
Hidden Gems took off, with Steve’s work in demand from interior designers and a stream of direct commissions, but things haven’t ended there.
In tandem with his furniture business, he’s created a fresh, innovative venture in Royal Docks that’s also proving a hit with clients.
“I live locally and I was scouting around with the idea of opening a photography studio,” said Steve, who also makes ceramic pieces.
“I used to store my wood at The Silver Building which is also owned by Projekt and space at The Factory Project came up so I took it on and opened Our Urban Oasis.
Both studios are on two levels and, in contrast to the typical blank canvas approach of many providers, Steve has kitted them out with a wide selection of pieces from Hidden Gems that clients are free to incorporate into their photoshoots, videos or other creative works.
Steve has filled his studios with furniture and sculptural pieces mostly made from natural wood
Visitors can even buy the pieces on display, should they so wish.
“A lot of these studio spaces tend to copy each other, but I trust my own tastes,” said Steve.
“I think that if I like it, then there will be other people that do too.
“It’s satisfying to see people enjoying it and we’re very popular. I think people hire the spaces because they want something different.
“I hope they find the furniture and decor inspiring – some of the walls are natural clay.
“It’s a creative space where people can come and it’s organic, they can use it for whatever they want.
“It can be a film set, a place to record podcasts, video content or to do fashion shoots. Everything can be moved around and we have plain backgrounds too so it can be used for e-commerce.
“There’s a kind of zen feeling about it, so I get a lot of people involved in the wellbeing sector using it.”
Steve’s pieces from Hidden Gems fill the space, with everything from sofas and chairs to dining tables and tree stumps on wheels available as props.
“A lot of them feature live edge work – where the bark has just come off and the wood has a natural shape to it,” he said.
“Each piece is truly unique. I could make a new version of a piece we’ve already done, but it will never be exactly the same because the wood will be different.
“I always get surprises with the timber we work with because, until you get it inside the workshop and start to cut it and work with it, you don’t know what it will be like.
“We’ll plane a piece down and it’ll be: ‘Wow, look at that,’ and there’s the inspiration.”
Our Urban Oasis’ spaces are available for a wide variety of uses
providing flexible spaces
Our Urban Oasis enjoys a varied array of clients with people finding all kinds of uses for the space.
“It’s such a mixture,” said Steve.
“We’ve had celebrities here doing shoots for magazines and we get big fashion brands as well. It’s really surprising.
“We get plenty of natural light and there’s a real summer vibe when the sun is streaming through the window.
“The building itself is very secure and I think people sometimes wonder what they’re coming into when they arrive at the gates because of The Factory Project’s industrial history, but it also means we’re nice and quiet.”
That’s likely to be of special benefit for Our Urban Oasis’ forthcoming evening of Candlelit Yin Yoga And Sound Bath.
The event is set to take place on December 7 from 4pm to 6pm and will be led by Yoga and Pilates teacher Suzan Altay.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
The 100th birthday of Lyle Park in Royal Docks is a reminder, perhaps, that we are simply custodians of the land – morally obliged to leave it better than we found it.
Created originally on land donated by Sir Leonard Lyle (of Tate & Lyle) to West Ham Council, it was initially intended as a vital strip of green open space to improve the lives of residents and workers living in cramped conditions around the factories during the docks’ heyday.
It rapidly became an essential lung in a sea of grimy, polluting industry – a place where at least people could find an escape from their toil for a few hours and enjoy a stroll by the Thames.
But with the factories’ decline and departure (Tate & Lyle being a notable exception), this parcel of grass and trees became a somewhat overlooked anomaly, at least until plans for regeneration arrived.
For now, 100 years after its creation, Lyle Park is once again centre-stage – a valuable and treasured asset for the emerging communities at Royal Wharf and, more recently, Riverscape.
A new building – The Latham – is set to launch later this month at the latter and developer Ballymore is eager to emphasise its proximity to the open space.
To that end, it’s spent time and money sprucing up the park for its 100th birthday and creating a series of attractions to help bring more people to the area.
Driving visitors to the space is also part of the company’s ongoing regeneration plans as Lyle Park should – if planning permission is granted – soon be bordered on its far side by the developer’s scheme for Knights Road.
This will see a further 1,300 homes created along the Thames alongside light industrial units, open spaces and shops.
Lyle Park has been cleaned up for its 100th birthday
marking the anniversary of Lyle Park
“The park had been surrounded by industrial land, so we’ve been working on how we could get people back there and celebrate its 100th birthday,” said James Boyce, associate regional sales director at Ballymore.
“Given we’re just completing the construction of Riverscape, we’ve been thinking about the best way to activate it, to pull people in from all the surrounding developments to come and enjoy the park.
“We’ve been making improvements in partnership with Newham Parks such as pruning some of the larger trees, tidying up the paths and works to the steps – we’re really excited to share them with people.”
Should planning permission be granted for Knights Road, Ballymore will further update and polish the park’s offering.
But in the meantime it’s celebrating the space’s centenary with a pair of installations.
The first has seen east London artist Maud Milton and her team at Trinity Buoy Wharf-based Artyface cement a series of four mosaic artworks into the fabric of the Lyle Park marking its 100th birthday and highlighting some of the birds found on the Thames and its tributaries.
Lyle Park sits beside Riverscape right on the Thames
The second will see SuperShakes operate a pop-up at the park.
The new health-focused drinks brand has been created by owner of The Lockdown Room and The Eleventh Hour, Dan Bull, (find out more about him here) and it will be the lynch pin of a series of fitness events in partnership with Royal Wharf Club House and One Element Docklands.
All of these activities officially launch on October 5, when interested parties can also get a sneak peek at homes in The Latham.
James said: “It’s a fine building, housing 52 apartments split into one, two and three-beds. It’s also the last opportunity to buy a home facing over Lyle Park.
“For nature-lovers, these properties are ideal.
“The apartments all have big balconies or terraces and you can see the grass and trees – some of which are 100 years old – stretching out in front of you.
“If you walk down the steps from The Latham, you’re literally in the park, it’s a real selling point.
“What’s also a little more unusual is that on the ground floor, we have four apartments – two one-beds and two-three beds – that have almost double-height ceilings and they’re really special.
“The three-beds, especially, are spectacular if you’re a family looking for lots of space and easy access to the outdoors”
In addition, residents at The Latham will enjoy all the amenities of both Riverscape and Royal Wharf as well as excellent transport links via the DLR.
Homes at The Latham are set to go on sale on October 26
key details: The Latham at Riverscape
Homes in The Latham at Riverscape are set to officially launch on October 26, 2024.
Prices start at £430,000.
Those seeking an early preview can take a tour of the building on October 5, 2024, at 11am, 1pm or 3pm departing from the Riverscape Sales Gallery at Royal Wharf.
For more information about Riverscape and SuperShakes’ fitness events over the coming months, follow @supershakes and @riverscapeldn on Instagram
Artist Maud Milton, hard at work in her studio at Trinity Buoy Wharf
meeting Maud Milton
Artist Maud Milton set up Artyface Community Art in 1999 in Tower Hamlets and has been making public works ever since.
Based at Trinity Buoy Wharf, a neighbour to Ballymore’s Goodluck Hope scheme in Leamouth, she and her team were commissioned by the developer to create a mosaic mural trail in celebration of Lyle Park’s centenary.
The four works are set to be officially unveiled on October 5, 2024.
“I got a degree in ceramics from Cardiff and then did a residency in North Wales for a year,” said Maud.
“But my mum was from east London and moved back here and I joined her in Stepney Green to set up the business.
“I got an office job in London to pay the bills, but had repetitive strain injury from long hours working as a web editor and copywriter, so I was forced to leave work with no idea what I could do.
“I showed my portfolio around to lots of people and got a commission with one council.
vThen I met graphic designer Catherine Clark through another job and she’s been working with me ever since.”
With Catherine creating the designs and Maud using ceramics and mosaic techniques to bring them into reality, Artyface has made a name for itself across London and beyond with its colourful, community driven works including roundel signs for stations.
Maud with one of the mosaic’s she and her team have created for the project
“We’ve been doing it for 25 years and Catherine is incredible,” said Maud.
“The nice thing about these pieces is that they’re there 24/7 and they’re free for people to look at.
“For the Lyle Park pieces, as is often the case, we’ve worked with residents and children at a local primary school to make the blue tiles that form the borders.
“The mosaics we’ve created are a celebration of the wildlife on the Thames.
“There’s a swan, an oyster catcher, a mallard duck and a kingfisher.
“The idea is that the pieces also serve as an educational tool, because they’re labelled with the name of the species in English and Latin.
“It’s about literacy too – a lot of our projects have got words in, so you’ve got words woven into the pieces via the tiles people have created.”
Fired to 1,280ºC the ceramics used to make the works should survive anything the UK weather can throw at them and remain durable enough to last another 100 years.
“I hope people are curious, happy and surprised when they see them,” said Maud.
“They become part of people’s daily lives and some go and visit them specially. That makes us so proud.
“Public commissions should become part of the streetscape.
“I know with some of our works, there are children who want to go and see the animals on their way to the nursery, so the mosaics wind up becoming a loved part of their daily commute.
“It’s not just children – I’ve got a photograph of a family – three generations – leaning up against the wall and touching one of our pieces.
“It makes them proud of their area and that someone cared enough to make something like this.
“I love getting photographs from people on Instagram, because I forget how many are out there getting that appreciation.
“We’re always up for new commissions and I’d love to do a DLR station or a roundel with a rainbow for Pride in Soho. We want all the challenges.”
Artyface also makes work for sale including private commissions for pieces such as door numbers or signs.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
“Renting in London is a daunting situation for first-time buyers, many of whom feel they have no choice but to accept sub-par conditions for an extortionately high price,” said Kevin Sims, director of affordable housing provider SO Resi.
His statement is backed up by data.
Property portal Zoopla’s latest report on the rental market found that around 21 people were competing for each new listing appearing on its site nationwide, let alone in London.
The organisation’s most recent rental report also found the average monthly rent in the capital was £2,172 – almost 70% higher than the UK average.
While the forthcoming Renters Rights Bill may go some way to addressing issues in the sector for tenants, the changes are not expected for many months, which will be of scant comfort to those renting now.
“There is a solution, however, and that is shared ownership,” said Kevin.
“The scheme offers a low-deposit route onto the property ladder and many buyers of such homes find their monthly repayments are lower than renting in the capital.
“With shared ownership, Londoners finally have the chance to build up equity in their property and find the peace of mind that comes with home ownership.”
SO Resi Canning Town is located at Manor Road Quarter
The scheme is located a few minutes from Tube, DLR and bus links at Canning Town station and enjoys the many benefits of the area’s extensive regeneration.
For example, there’s craft beer at Husk’s taproom, modern Italian food at Pepenero, a bouldering facility at Rise Climbing and outdoorsy activities at Bow Ecology Park and environmental community project, Cody Dock.
But what will buyers actually be getting at the scheme? SO Resi – part of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, the fifth largest housing association in the UK – is set to launch a show home at the development on September 26, 2024, so interested parties can get a feel of what’s on offer.
Apartments come complete with fitted kitchens and bathrooms, fully integrated Zanussi kitchen appliances, and solid timber floors.
They feature open-plan layouts – with total living space ranging from 556sq ft to 971sq ft – and each has a private balcony as well as plenty of storage.
A kitchen at SO Resi Canning Town
getting on the ladder
Buying a share in a property is affordable and may be attractive for multiple reasons.
Firstly, the amount of deposit a buyer requires is lower.
The scheme allows people to purchase between 10% and 75% of a home (although usually starting at 25%), while paying below market rent on the rest, alongside a service charge.
That means buyers could purchase their share with a mortgage and potentially only need 5% of its value as a deposit – £4,906 at SO Resi Canning Town, for example.
Buyers are free to live in their homes as though they owned the whole thing with no threat of eviction.
If desired, they can also choose to increase their share in a process known as staircasing until they own the property outright.
The apartments feature open-plan layouts and balconies
key details: SO Resi Canning Town
Prices at SO Resi Canning Town start at £98,125 for a 25% share of a one-bedroom apartment (based on a full market value of £392,500).
A new show home is set to launch at the development on September 26, 2024.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
In many ways, simply visiting Riverscape in Royal Docks is enough to understand its appeal.
Located on a strip of land between Royal Wharf and Lyle Park – running between the Thames and North Woolwich Road – Ballymore’s development is essentially a grand final phase in the story of its neighbour.
“It’s worth looking back to when Ballymore was master-planning Royal Wharf,” said James Boyce, the developer’s associate regional sales director.
“At the time, in 2013, there was nothing in this area – no amenities or services.
“That meant the original development had to be self sufficient.
“Now it is a destination that people in Royal Docks come to.
“The wider development is essentially a town in its own right.
“There’s a doctor’s surgery, a dentist, a pharmacy, a primary school, a nail salon, a beauty parlour and a hairdresser.
“Then there are two estate agencies, a selection of restaurants, a pub and a Sainsbury’s Local – one of the most well-used in London.
“We’re really fortunate to have established one of the most complete, new neighbourhoods of any large new-build project in the capital.”
Those moving into Riverscape, which recently launched a collection of homes in The Pearsall building, can take advantage of these benefits immediately.
This is in contrast to big regeneration schemes, where early arrivals sometimes have to wait years for amenities to arrive locally.
Ballymore associate regional sales director James Boyce
Riverscape: the right design
“We had real confidence to build Riverscape, with Royal Wharf selling off-plan in five years,” said James.
“We knew the demand was there.
“It was being designed and delivered during the pandemic, however, and there was a lot of uncertainty.
“We postponed the launch of the development, went back to the drawing board and looked at all of the best things from our projects.
“We also looked at how the way people were using their homes had changed.
“Residents were demanding a lot more from the spaces they were living in.
“So we created day rooms – internal spaces that are segregated from the rest of the apartment by acoustic screens.
“They can be used as dining rooms, offices or even as a kid’s playroom.
“We also created workspaces in most of the apartments we have available, so buyers have flexibility.
“Where we could, we maximised the living spaces too.
“Initially we were a bit concerned about the number of three-bedroom homes that we were building, but they’ve turned out to be our most popular properties.
“A few years after Covid – and with businesses requiring people to come into the office more often – there’s been a move into London.
“A development like Riverscape affords people the quality of life that they might have become accustomed to in a less urban area – it’s not high density and there’s a lot of green space.”
Ballymore’s Riverscape development is right beside Lyle Park
fully opened up
This is a key point regarding the development’s appeal.
It’s right next to Lyle Park, with Thames Barrier Park a short walk away on the other side of Royal Wharf to the east.
“Then there’s the kilometre of land that borders the Thames stretching between the two,” said James.
“We built the Royal Wharf pier in 2019 – the longest in the river – and the Uber Boat By Thames Clippers service will get you to North Greenwich in two minutes and to Canary Wharf in 19 minutes.
“Often with riverside developments, it can feel like there’s a barrier of housing on the water.
“But Ballymore’s master plan has taken a different approach.
“Royal Wharf and Riverscape are arranged around a town square with the estate offices located there.
“That really encourages people out of their homes to access those core amenities and that’s part of the success of the scheme and the community we’ve created.”
Apartments at Riverscape include day rooms separated from the rest of the property by glass walls
a wealth of facilities for Riverscape
Richard added: “The Clubhouse was built for Royal Wharf, but it was built in terms of capacity with Riverscape in mind.
“We’ve also recently refurbished it and extended it by 20% to ensure the facilities satisfy the residents.
“There’s a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and spa, a big cardio and weights area and two dedicated studio spaces.
“It’s the biggest residents facility of its kind in east London and it’s been incredibly popular.
“There’s also the Community Dock, which is managed by the residents and is essentially a town hall.
“It has a pretty jam-packed timetable of activities ranging from ballet lessons for kids to language sessions and a table tennis club that’s based there.
“Specifically for Riverscape, we decided to replace a three-bedroom property on the top floor of one of our riverside buildings with a lounge for residents.
“It’s a co-working space but it also has a private dining space so people can host dinner parties up there too with views over the river.”
Riverscape properties feature large format glazing to maximise natural light
a broad appeal
One, two and three-bedroom homes are available in the latest launch, featuring interiors designed by Jaki Amos of Amos & Amos.
These promise brushed brass, fluted glass kitchen cabinets and natural wood finishes inspired by Lyle Park, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year.
But while Riverscape and Royal Wharf have their specific attractions, their appeal is part of something bigger.
James said: “Since the opening of the Elizabeth Line, we’ve seen that it’s unlocked this area for people who would never have considered moving to the Royal Docks before.
“Young professionals are relocating from more central locations because the cost of living crisis is making it harder for them to stay in those areas.
“What we’ve found is that when they come here, they find they get value for money and that their lifestyle is actually improving.
“They have more space, nearby amenities and the transport is superb.
“We’ve been delighted to see that trend, because it’s something that’s really needed in the capital.
“I think the movement of London to the east started with the 2012 Olympic Games.
“Royal Docks has so much potential.
“For the future, we’re very fortunate to have the site on the other side of Lyle Park too.
“We’ve opened up the riverside with these developments and eventually further regeneration will bring even more benefits.”
Riverscape buyer Sophie Gong in her east London apartment
case study: Sophie Gong
As a fan of Royal Docks, Sophie Gong has been living in the area for more than six years and decided to buy a home at Riverscape having previously had apartments at Royal Wharf.
Here’s her perspective:
“I first moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Royal Wharf at end of 2018, hence I know the area and neighbourhood quite well,” said Sophie Gong.
“In 2020, I felt the need to move to a two-bedroom property, as my dad had started staying with me from time to time.
“Following the end of the pandemic, I started to actively look for properties and the launch of Riverscape in 2021 came at the perfect time.
“I had been living in Royal Wharf for about three years and found the area had developed a lot since I moved in.
“It became very convenient to live in, with an NHS clinic, a pharmacy, a hairdresser, a couple of grocery stores and a number of restaurants within the development.
“Additionally, Lyle Park and Thames Barrier Park are within a short walking distance for green space.
“The transport around Riverscape is ideal for me to travel into central London, with the Elizabeth Line and DLR the two main options.
“Even more conveniently, the new 241 bus route goes through the development, linking us to Custom House station and Stratford.
“Additionally, the Uber Boat By Thames Clipper stops at Royal Wharf Pier, which makes travelling to central London, as well as The O2 and Greenwich, both easy and exciting.”
key details: Riverscape
Homes in The Pearsall building at Riverscape have recently gone on sale, with prices starting at £471,500.
One, two and three-bedroom homes are all available.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
“I would still be renting or living with my parents if it wasn’t for shared ownership – it gives you a lifeline, especially in your 20s or 30s,” said Farhana Mallick.
The history teacher turned to affordable housing provider NHG Homes when she began looking to put down roots in her home city.
Having been raised in east London, she’d spent her early 20s living in this part of the city and so initially looked at properties in Tower Hamlets and Ilford.
However, it was Royal Docks that ultimately turned her head, opting to purchase a quarter of a three-bedroom apartment in 2021.
“I decided I was done losing my money on rent,” said Farhana, who now teaches at a school in Barking And Dagenham.
“I wanted to invest in a property, and have a home I could make my own.
“Shared ownership really appealed to me because it meant I required a much smaller deposit than if I was buying privately.”
More shared ownership homes are set to become available at Royal Albert Wharf
a deposit, a mortgage and rent
Farhana, then aged 25, used a £13,250 deposit to buy her share of a property at NHG Homes’s Royal Albert Wharf scheme, taking out a mortgage to cover the remainder of the £132,500 cost.
The apartment, which was then valued at £530,000, costs her £1,391 per month which breaks down as £606 on the loan, £497 in rent and £288 in service charge.
“As a first-time buyer, NHG Homes really helped me to understand the process, and what the steps were,” said Farhana.
“I think many people aren’t aware of what shared ownership is or its benefits, but NHG Homes was so transparent and happy to answer all of my questions – the whole purchase was smooth and enjoyable, with wraparound care from the team.
“As a young person, living in this city, this home gives me great flexibility to either increase my share or sell it based on the market – I could definitely see myself raising a family here.
“With shared ownership making my home more affordable, I’ve now got a spare bedroom and a great community on my doorstep.
“If I was to move homes, I think my next purchase would also be with shared ownership – I can’t recommend it enough.”
The development is located at the end of Royal Albert Dock and is on the banks of the Thames
selecting Royal Albert Wharf
NHG Homes and other affordable housing providers offer multiple locations where buyers can purchase shared ownership homes, so what made Royal Albert Wharf stand out?
“I’ve stuck to my roots as I grew up in east London and the Royal Albert Wharf community has got a really modern and stylish twist to it,” said Farhana, who has now lived in the area for more than two years.
“I do travel into central London, but often I feel like I don’t really need to, because I’ve got so many things on my doorstep.
“If I am going into town, then I’ll take the DLR as it has so many connections.
“I shop locally a lot, including at Gallions Reach Shopping Park and also Beckton Triangle Retail Park, both of which are very close.”
The development is well connected, with Gallions Reach DLR station less than 10 minutes’ walk offering connections across east London including to the Elizabeth Line at Custom House.
From there, Canary Wharf is three minutes’ away, while Liverpool Street is nine minutes.
Royal Docks itself, which is currently undergoing billions of pounds of regeneration, offers multiple amenities including watersports, events at Excel, restaurants, bars and a new strip of attractions at Immerse LDN – find out more here about The Friends Experience: The One In London, which recently opened there.
Farhana said: “Residents have created a great community here and that’s really rare to find, especially as a young person.
“We have our own group, which is great as you can get to know other people living here.
“When I have friends or family visit, there is so much to do on the doorstep – from brunch to Yoga classes and a regular food market on Fridays as well as events happening in Royal Docks.
“There’s a children’s playground being built at the moment as well, and there’s a gym planned – I feel like it’s constantly evolving.
“I’m trying to get into my fitness these days and living here has helped that because it makes me want to get outside.
“It’s so rare to see open water like this in the city. It’s a lovely area to be in.”
As a location to buy, Royal Docks makes a solid case. With much regeneration taking place locally and further transport links proposed, demand for homes is only likely to grow.
Farhana enjoys a coffee at The Well Bean Co, her local cafe
key details: Royal Albert Wharf
NHG Homes is set to launch a fresh collection of shared ownership properties at Royal Albert Wharf in September.
A new show home is set to launch at the scheme on August 31, 2024.
Apartments are also available for private sale at the east London development with prices for one, two and three-bedroom homes starting at £375,000, £494,995 and £660,000 respectively.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
“It’s comforting, welcoming and inviting – many people watch Friends again and again and have told us it’s the last thing they see before going to bed,” said Kathleen Wallis, vice president of global themed entertainment at Warner Bros. Discovery and one of two people heading up the creation of a new attraction in east London.
Together with Stacy Moscatelli, CEO of OGX Productions, the pair have taken a space at Excel’s newly minted Immerse LDN waterfront strip and conjured forth a little bit of sitcom magic.
The Friends Experience: The One In London opened its doors this month (August, 2024), offering visitors the chance to pose and snap away in a series of painstakingly recreated sets from the show.
Not only that, there’s a chance to enjoy themed refreshments in a New York-style space after exploring the attraction and a gift shop.
That this experience should be launching some two decades after the final episode aired, is testament to the comedy’s enduring popularity – the fact it has found fresh fans as younger audiences fall for the trials and tribulations of Rachel, Ross, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler and Joey.
A series of Friends sets have been painstakingly recreated at Immerse LDN
the mass appeal of Friends
“It’s got universal themes and many people use the show to learn how to speak English,” said Stacy.
“Everyone growing up experiences first love, room mates, navigating apartments, jobs, choosing careers, falling out – it’s just very relatable.
“The show was really well done and has held up – it’s still very enjoyable to watch.”
The attraction at Immerse LDN – which will house a number of visitor experiences as well as a food hall at the east London conference and exhibition centre – has its roots in a New York pop-up.
“We were talking around the studio about the 25th anniversary of Friends, so we decided to do something like a pop-up in New York City for 30 days in Soho,” said Kathleen.
“That was in 2019 and it was massively successful. I think everyone is a Friends fan on some level.
“We’ve been creating these live experiences in different locations for a few years now, so we see the emotional reaction people have when they come into the spaces.
“The novelty of that never wears off – watching people being in the space, their reactions and where they take their pictures.
“With this one, we started off by thinking about what a fan would be disappointed by if we didn’t have it in a location like this – what should be in London?”
Visitors can relax on the sofa at Central Perk
£20 entry to Friends The Experience
Visitors who pay the £20 ticket price will find a selection of sets such as the fountain from the title sequence, the characters’ apartments and a faithful recreation of coffee shop and sometime gig venue, Central Perk.
What’s fresh for this edition of the experience, however, are some significant nods to London including a tribute to Joey getting lost with his camcorder and Emily and Ross’ wedding.
“This is more than a pop-up, it’s a flagship creation here in London, where we bring to life all of the iconic sets and some of the fun from some of the episodes that people loved the most,” said Stacy.
“They get to immerse themselves in those places and relive what they loved about the show.”
Kathleen added: “While it’s a show that everyone has watched at some point, people haven’t stepped inside the physical spaces before.
“We start with the opening credits, the fountain, the music and then all the things you would expect.
“But we also fly visitors to London and we’ve got the interior of the chapel where visitors can recreate Ross’ wedding.”
While the altar isn’t real – you have to hop on the DLR to Shadwell to visit St John’s Church in Wapping, which was used for the location shoots in the series, for that – the romance certainly is.
“My favourite thing about these experiences we’ve created is the proposals,” said Kathleen. “We’ve had 270 across all our locations so far, which is amazing.
“I think it shows the emotional connection people have with the series, that it makes sense for them to do that in our sets.”
Locations from scenes in London have also been recreated
emotional scenes
Stacy added: “I’ve seen the doors open and people just break down crying because it’s so emotional for them to be here on a set.
“We really hope that people have a joyful experience.
“As you walk through, we have a lot of episodes playing and you can’t help watching, laughing and smiling.
“We’ve been around the world, and we still stop and laugh.
“We’re both Friends fans – my favourite episode is when Ross has trouble with his leather pants.
“We know we can’t disappoint people who love the show, so we created the sets with a forensic level of detail – we have to get it right, because the fans know – and we’ve worked really closely with Warner to make that happen.”
All this means that when you open the fridge in Monica’s apartment, Rachel’s traditional English trifle is right there lurking.
Jam, good. Custard, good. Beef, gooooood…
Kathleen Wallis, left, and Stacy Moscatelli of Warner and OGX
key details: Friends The Experience: The One In London
The Friends Experience: The One In London is now open, with bookings for dates all the way into February, 2025, available.
Tickets start at £20. VIP packages (including professional photography, which is typically extra) cost £65.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
In charge since the very first show, artistic director Bradley Hemmings and his team have put together a series of blockbusters and smaller happenings aimed at delighting residents, local workers and visitors.
We sat down with him to go over a few of the highlights to help you plan your diary.
“We’ve long been associated with very surprising and unusual events that pop-up and happen in locations across Greenwich and east London,” he said.
“This year we’re opening with a phenomenal performance by a French company – Les Commandos Percu.
“The show is called Silence and will take place at 8.30pm on August 23 at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.
“This awesome parade ground space will be filled with a fusion of pyrotechnics and percussion.
“With people going though difficult times, having something joyous and uplifting like that will be just the tonic.
“They’re a company we’ve worked with before – way back in 2016 – so we’re very much looking forward to welcoming them back.”
GDIF will feature World Kiosk in Green Street
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival – the small things
“We work across all sorts of different scales, it’s not all about large spectacles,” said Bradley
“For many people who come to the festival, it’s about having transformational experiences that disrupt the rhythm of the everyday.
“This year’s theme is All Change – we’re inspired by Gandhi’s message to be the change you want to see.
“We’re going through seismic times and something that brings people together to reflect, think and have a great time is really important.
“One of the highlights for me will be smaller in scale, but very intimate and considered.
“It invites people to take a breath – a moment outside the busyness of life – and provides a window into other people’s lives.
“Visitors are welcomed to the kiosk, which then serves them tea in a very ritualistic and beautiful way.
“Then they listen in to voices from people in other parts of the country who have been through this same process, sharing stories.
“It’s a sublime and beautiful experience, a wonderful reprieve from daily life.”
Thaw takes place on top of a 2.5 tonne block of ice suspended from a crane
melting away
“At the other end of the scale, at Royal Albert Dock, we have an extraordinary spectacle from an Australian company called Legs On The Wall called Thaw,” said Bradley
“This production takes place on a 2.5 tonne block of ice suspended above the dock on a crane.
“Each day it runs for eight hours with a performer on top trying to navigate the changing shape of the block as it starts to melt.
“There’s a sense of jeopardy but also a wonderful soundscape that provides a chance to reflect and think very hard about what’s happening to the planet and the climate emergency.
“I think this will be one of the abiding images of this year’s festival – it runs on August 24 and 25, from 1pm-9pm at the University Of East London’s Royal Docks campus.”
Dancing City is set to take place in Stratford this year
miraculous movement
On September 7, from 1pm-6pm, a number of areas in Stratford will be awash with many forms of movement.
“We set it up at Canary Wharf in 2003 and people have come to really love that event.
“This year it will take place at East Bank, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and in Stratford town centre.
“There’s a phenomenal range of dance companies taking part.
“We’re working very closely with Sadler’s Wells East and East London Dance as well as other partners including Stratford Cross, UCL and the London College Of Fashion.
“What will be wonderful about it is that it will be taking place in the midst of the Paralympic Games in Paris.
“I co-directed the London 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony, so there’s a personal history there and we’ll be presenting work led by deaf disabled artists.
“It feels wonderful to be continuing that Olympic legacy 12 years later.
“One of the pieces is called Synergy and has been choreographed by Mark Smith, who worked on the Paralympics with me.”
Parkworks is set to bring a day of family fun to Stratford
this year and the future
“One of the things that we will be doing next year is marking our 30th anniversary,” said Bradley.
“It’s enormously satisfying to see that GDIF is still there thanks to our partners.
“It seems to me that this will be a moment where we should be taking stock and thinking about what the next three decades will look like.
“It typifies what we aim to do – to create something miraculous and wonderful that reveals the story of this emerging part of London.
“Dante Or Die have created a piece around a clock tower, which originally sat in Deptford before the GLC transported it by barge down the Thames and rebuilt it as the centrepiece of Thamesead town centre.
“An 18th century structure improbably located in the middle of the 1980s development.
“Then my final highlight is festival of family fun – Parkworks, which takes place on August 25 and 26 from 1pm-6pm in Stratford Park.
“There will be a giant interactive climbing frame built from bamboo and parents with prams choreographed with headsets.”
key details: Greenwich + Docklands International Festival
The Greenwich + Docklands International Festival runs from August 23 to September 8, 2024.
All events are free to attend. These highlights are the tip of the iceberg.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
“One of the biggest challenges in the creative industries is not knowing who to connect to – it’s still very much who you know,” said Alison Lowe, director of careers and enterprise at the University Of East London’s School Of Arts And Creative Industries.
“The other main one is confidence.”
Both, however, will be firmly in the crosshairs early next month as UEL’s Creative Industries Festival arrives at the institution’s Royal Docks Centre For Sustainability.
Billed both as a careers fair and a major networking opportunity, the four-day event aims to attract those working in art, architecture, performing arts, fashion, media, advertising, illustration and business as well as those seeking opportunities in those sectors.
“While it was my idea, we have an amazing group of students and interns that have worked on it – it’s really all about their generation,” said Alison.
“Anyone who is creative can come along.
“For students and alumni it will be about getting on the career ladder.
“We’ll have recruiters here and talent scouts looking for the next generation of talent, so it will be a brilliant opportunity.
“Then there will also be lots of workshops, learning and networking.
“It’s tough to get a job in the creative industries and there’s often a gap with graduates not having the right contacts, so we want them to come along and meet people.
“It will also be for people working in the creative industries.
“It’s not always easy to see who’s doing what, so we want lots of big organisations to come along so we can all learn about each other – what are we doing and how we can collaborate.”
UEL’s Alison Lowe has created the event to bring students and creative professionals together in east London
the Creative Industries Festival, a natural move
It’s an area that Alison is well-placed to operate in, having spent much of her career connecting creative people with employment opportunities and helping brands communicate their stories to customers.
“I started in performing arts at 16 at the Birmingham Rep as an actress,” she said.
“I had no training, went along to an audition and got my first job.
“Working in the performing arts for several years, I discovered I’m also a natural entrepreneur.
“After a few years, I realised that while I could always find work, a lot of people I knew couldn’t, and they were far better actresses and singers than I was.
“So I started helping other people and founded my first business, Chameleon, which was a recruitment consultancy for creative people.
“I’ve had seven businesses, all of them consultancies or recruitment firms.
“My last business, Felicities, ran for 25 years supporting fashion designers, which saw me awarded an MBE for services to the industry.
“Initially I came to UEL to write some new programmes such as an MBA in fashion entrepreneurship and an MA in creative enterprise and came to the director’s role from that.
“The festival will be partly a path to jobs, but also to help build relationships within the creative sector.
“Luckily, with the work I’ve done, I’ve got quite a lot of connections, so I can reach out to people and ask if they’ll be part of it, so it’s building those community links.
“It’s also to get the young people in and ask them what their challenges are – to find out what they are trying to overcome in 2024 when they’re trying to get an interview or an audition.”
The Royal Docks Centre For Sustainability at UEL will host the majority of the festival
manifesting a future
“Something that I learnt many years ago when I was starting out was to tell people I was an actress rather than talking about whatever other work I might have been doing to pay the bills,” said Alison.
“The word now is ‘manifesting’.
“I remember going to a party and someone asked me what I did.
“I said I was an actress and felt such a twit saying it, because I’d finished the Birmingham Rep job and there wasn’t another one to follow it.
“But he said: ‘Oh, are you?’, and turned out to be a director, so I worked for him for the next two years.
“The lesson is that if you don’t say what you are, it won’t happen.
“If you are confident about who you are and what you do, other people will believe you.
“I think that’s a real challenge for a lot of our students at UEL. Perhaps they come from more disadvantaged backgrounds and might often be first-generation creatives – they may have relatives asking them when they’re going to get a proper job because they don’t have any experience of these industries.
“Then there’s the challenge of actually getting paid.
“As a young fashion designer, for example, everyone wants you to do everything for free. But getting paid is about valuing yourself and what you do. It’s vital.”
together to collaborate
Partners for the Creative Industries Festival will include Canva, Lego, GLA, East Bank, the Foundation For Future London, Cine Circle, The Developing Room and creativeLDN.
The three-day programme at Royal Docks boasts free workshops, talks, panel discussions, installations, performances, a pop-up shop, hackathons, showcases and a creative talent careers fair.
“We want it to be fun and to have a real creative buzz,” said Alison.
“We’ve invited as many people as possible from the creative industries.
“For the Community Day, we’ll be working with Stratford Originals who will be coming up with a map for people to go around different creative spaces in Stratford.
“We’ll be starting off at St John’s Church Yard, with activities for all the family at the different creative businesses participating.
“It’s really about fostering that community spirit.”
Another key focus for the festival will be how business and creativity interact.
“Entrepreneurs are creative people, so the festival is also about creative thinking in business,” said Alison.
“What we’ve learned over the last few years is that we have to be creative in our business activities to succeed.
“In a nutshell, the festival presents a platform for change, where creative talent, policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs and students will come together to share knowledge, develop collaborations and initiate innovations.
“Come and join us to make positive changes throughout the creative industries.”
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
