Planning approval has been secured for the redevelopment of Beckton Gateway Retail Park in East London into a Grade A industrial and logistics hub. This follows an extensive pre-application process with London Borough of Newham, the Greater London Authority, Transport for London and the Newham Design Review Panel.

Beckton Gateway will be transformed into 300,000 sq.ft of Grade A, flexible warehousing space and ancillary offices across three new buildings. Urban Edge have been working closely with Oxford and M7 to a client brief of achieving a ‘best-in-class urban logistics asset, in a key London submarket’.

During a collaborative design process a number of design iterations and viability studies were undertaken to maximise the site’s potential, ensuring the asset works commercially as well as functionally. With an understanding of the client’s needs, and careful space planning, we were able to unlock a complicated site that was heavily influenced by utility constraints.

A number of façade design options were tested and a number of positive meetings with the Design Review Panel were undertaken before a final scheme was settled on. Carefully placed panel joints help break down the mass of the buildings, with subtle shifts in cladding textures further helping this. A subtle material palette with copper accents highlight the office areas and entrances. A series of repeating glazed modules are spaced uniformly to create the architectural language and rhythm.

Our in-house landscape team have increased biodiversity through an integrated ecological and green infrastructure strategy with 92 new native trees and native hedgerows to deliver a biodiversity net gain of over 10%. The ecology of the adjacent scrubland will be enhanced to provide an external amenity space. The scheme integrates a carefully considered landscape approach that creates a sense of openness and connection to the public realm, whilst maintaining the high level of security required.

Sustainability is central to the redevelopment, with rooftop renewable energy PV panels resulting in a BREEAM Excellent and EPC A level of performance. Rainwater will be collected and reused with a water efficient design that will help reduce unnecessary consumption. Electric vehicle charging spaces will be introduced as part of the overall parking strategy, with infrastructure for electric delivery fleets. Secure cycle parking is provided within the building with changing facilities.

Construction is expected to begin in 2030.