Thamesmead Waterfront

Date: 2021

A new era in community-building, delivering innovative homes and neighbourhoods.

Concept (Images and Text): Adapted from competition entry led by Prior and Partners + Arup with contribution by JA Projects and others.

JA Projects, as part of a team led by Prior & Partners and Arup, has won the £8bn competition to design a new neighbourhood at Thamesmead in south-east London. The successful line-up of designers and planners, which includes Alison Brooks Architects, Marc Koehler and Carl Turner, have been appointed as strategic masterplanners for the site which covers more than 100 hectares.

The high-profile competition, run by Colander for a joint venture between Lendlease and Peabody, was the biggest in the housing association’s 158-year history. It will provide at least 11,500 new homes plus commercial and leisure space across more than a mile of undeveloped river frontage at the sprawling estate made famous by the film A Clockwork Orange.

Our vision promises to lead a new era in community-building, bringing innovation to the design of homes and neighbourhoods. Our work will lead to the creation of a new community where there is space for thousands of homes alongside new commercial and leisure space, set amongst an unrivalled natural environment in London with lakes, green spaces and over a mile of undeveloped river frontage.

At the centre of our team’s approach is the idea that communities evolve from existing places and relationships, and at the heart of their philosophy is the need to understand, build on, and grow the social capital that already exists at Thamesmead. This will help ensure that Thamesmead Waterfront becomes a natural extension to and of Thamesmead, whilst also being an attractive and welcoming place to newcomers from near and far.

Jayden Ali (Founding Director, JA Projects) said: “I grew up in Peabody housing and so I’ve always known the value affordable, high-quality homes and a supportive community can have on your life chances. So, having the opportunity to assist the Joint Venture in broadening this agenda is personal for me. To be able to help deliver 10k new homes for the housing association that provided me and my family with a roof over our heads is a a complete honour, and I’m excited to be able to use my life experience and the expertise of JA Projects to help the existing community thrive and give future generations the best chance of success.”

Our approach embraces the Joint Venture partnership’s set of five guiding principles :

• Natural living: Using and enhancing the existing landscape to create a unique natural destination for Thamesmead, London and the South-East – providing a place where people can unwind and find space to enjoy the natural world.

• A city neighbourhood: Providing the social infrastructure and workplaces to enable a resilient mixed-use neighbourhood with the choice, variety and opportunities of the best parts of London and the South- East.

• Better connections: Transforming connectivity into central London, including use of the river; connecting into the ‘Go East’ production corridor; and creating a legible, connected local network across Thamesmead.

• A safe, stable and sustainable community: Creating a place that people are proud of, through community ownership and participation. A place where you know your neighbours and your neighbourhood, where you feel safe and healthy. A place that is founded on robust stewardship and long-term viability.

• Inclusive and affordable for all: Making affordable but high-quality homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods, for a diverse community of people and businesses, creating jobs and opportunities for all.