The biggest single regeneration project in London, which features a major new film studio, is on show at Dubai’s Cityscape Global this week.
The £8.4 billion (Dh41.01bn) Greenwich Peninsula and its latest residential development Upper Riverside consists of prime waterfront real estate surrounded on three sides by the River Thames.
Greenwich Peninsula is a fast-growing "island" community in East London, according to the Hong Kong-backed developers Knight Dragon. Within a couple of minutes of the financial centre Canary Wharf, the masterplan includes central London’s first major film studio, a design district, seven new residential neighbourhoods with 15,720 new homes, two schools, independent shops, hotels, restaurants, green landscaped squares and parks, a major new transport interchange and a 5km sculptural running trail.
"It’s a huge project and a huge responsibility," said Sammy Lee, the vice chairman of Knight Dragon. "Something like this only happens once in a generation in London. We have big plans for the Peninsula and the team, the determination and the financial substance to deliver them."
Upper Riverside is one of seven new neighborhoods at Greenwich Peninsula and features five prism-shaped glass and stone towers with roof gardens leading to the edge of the Thames. The apartments with river and city views, were designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the architects of international landmarks including Burj Khalifa and the new World Trade Centre in New York.
"Greenwich Peninsula is a truly unique new destination," said David Godchaux, the chief executive of the estate agent CORE. "The City of London is continually growing and the number of employees working in Canary Wharf is set to double over the next 10 years."
Greenwich Peninsula is 14 minutes from London City Airport, and transport options include the underground nearby, soon to offer 24-hour services, Thames Clipper river service, and the Emirates Airline cable car. Canary Wharf is a future Crossrail destination and is only one stop from North Greenwich; Bond Street is a mere 17 minutes away. Both stations are on the Jubilee Line which will soon be one of the underground lines to operate 24 hours a day.