Greenwich Peninsula celebrates the launch of London’s first new commercial district in a generation – a major milestone in the continued regeneration of the Peninsula
The first commercial building is now complete and leased to Transport for London, bringing up to 1,900 employees to the Peninsula, daily
The building, designed by Sir Terry Farrell and Partners, has been awarded a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating of over 76%, and is one of the most energy efficient commercial buildings in the UK
A new commercial district, one Tube stop from Canary Wharf, is to be officially launched this week at Greenwich Peninsula, offering tenants a ‘New View of London’, unrivalled anywhere else in the Capital.
The first completed office building on the Peninsula, 14 Pier Walk, will soon be a new home for Transport for London and is being seen as a benchmark for the rest of the new commercial district and indeed the Greenwich Peninsula scheme as a whole.
As the partners delivering the Greenwich Peninsula regeneration scheme gather to celebrate the completion of 14 Pier Walk on Tuesday, the 3.5 million sq ft Peninsula Central will be launched as London’s newest and most innovative commercial district. The district is unique in its offer in London, combining sustainability, quality of design, connectivity, a stunning waterfront location, retail, food and drink outlets and open green space all alongside the world’s most popular entertainment venue, The O2. It also offers excellent value for money, which now more than ever before, is a priority for companies looking for new office space.
The first phase of the commercial district includes a second 115,000 sq ft building for commercial and retail lettings (Mitre Passage), next door to 14 Pier Walk, which will be completed at the end of 2009. Discussions with a number of potential tenants for this second building and others across the district are progressing well.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:
“Some might say the Greenwich Peninsula is already a resounding success with the awesome popularity of The O2. Today signals the next phase of development that will cement the broader regeneration plans for the whole area. It will act as a much needed catalyst to deliver the new businesses and jobs that are so important to make this a vibrant and thriving new district, by day and night. It’s not just good news for Greenwich but for London as a whole.”
There is over £180m of construction work currently being undertaken on the Greenwich Peninsula site, which is being developed by Lend Lease and Quintain in partnership with the Homes and Communities Agency. The success of The O2, the arrival of workers from Transport for London this summer, and the forthcoming delivery of the new Ravensbourne College, all demonstrate that the vision of a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable community at Greenwich Peninsula continues to take shape.
Nick Shattock, Deputy Chief Executive of Quintain, said:
“London’s first new business district in a generation has stunning panoramic views, 1.6 miles of riverside and sets an exceptional new benchmark for sustainable development, all next door to the world’s most popular entertainment venue, The O2.”
Dan Labbad, CEO of Lend Lease Europe, said:
"Greenwich Peninsula, the country's largest mixed use regeneration scheme, is setting a new benchmark. The new commercial district, initiated with 14 Pier Walk and TfL as lead tenant, demonstrates our commitment to delivering a leading, sustainable office location as a key part of the exciting new place we are creating for London."
Robert Napier, chairman of the Homes and Communities Agency, the national housing and regeneration agency and landowner at Greenwich Peninsula, said:
“Greenwich Peninsula is on track to be a competitive and accessible new business location in London and a truly sustainable new part of the Capital, complete with homes, open space and community facilities.”
Sir Terry Farrell, responsible for the design of the first commercial building and also the Greenwich Peninsula Masterplan, said:
“Ten years ago the Greenwich Peninsula was a wasteland. Our masterplan was quite a challenge, and it’s therefore a real pleasure to see it taking shape so well. With 14 Pier Walk we have resisted typical office design strictures to create a building that responds to its location and creates a sense of place. I’m proud of our work at Greenwich Peninsula and I am looking forward to the next stage of its development.”
ENDS
For further information about the Greenwich Peninsula, contact
Greenwich Peninsula
The £5 billion regeneration of 190 acres of Greenwich Peninsula led by Lend Lease and Quintain working in collaboration with the Homes and Communities Agency – a true public private partnership. The scheme will create a thriving new riverside community for London over the next 15 years.
- 10,000 new homes in distinct residential neighbourhoods
- 24,000 permanent jobs
- Peninsula Central - a new business district for London
- 150 new shops and restaurants
- 1.6 miles of river frontage; the distance between Waterloo and London Bridge
- 48 acres of open spaces and parks; the size of Green Park
- Extensive new community and leisure facilities
- The O2 entertainment destination delivered and operated by AEG Europe
- Excellent transport links, situated in zone 2 on the jubilee line
- Aspiration for the highest environmental standards for new buildings
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www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk
Lend Lease
Lend Lease, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, is a leading real estate specialist which creates and manages real estates assets around the world. In the UK its business is focussed primarily in the delivery of large scale mixed use schemes which lead to the regeneration of major urban sites.
www.lendlease.com
Quintain
Quintain creates value from property, operating through three businesses: fund management, property investment and urban regeneration. Quintain is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
www.quintain.co.uk
The Homes and Communities Agency
The HCA is the single, national housing and regeneration agency for England. We bring together the development and regeneration expertise of English Partnerships, investment functions of the Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities, with major delivery programmes of Communities and Local Government. Our role is to create opportunity for people to live in high quality, sustainable places. We provide funding for affordable housing, bring land back into productive use and improve quality of life by raising standards for the physical and social environment. During the next three financial years the HCA controls a budget of £17.3bn.
Terry Farrell and Partners
Terry Farrell and Partners is one of the world’s leading masterplanning and architectural practices with offices in London, Edinburgh and Hong Kong. Buildings include several London landmarks including the redevelopment of Charing Cross, the MI6 headquarters and the Home Office headquarters. Masterplanning work includes the Greenwich Peninsula masterplan as well as a spatial vision for the Thames Gateway Parklands project. Overseas work includes Beijing South Railway Station – one of the biggest railway stations in the world – which recently won a prestigious RIBA International Award.
About 14 Pier Walk and Mitre Passage
The buildings comprise a set of curved “blades” of office accommodation and landscaping that establishes new public space. The building blades have different heights and colour, and form a family of dynamic shapes along a curve that appears to ripple out from the O2 and responds to the river. Unlike most office buildings, the façade is irregular and colourful, and adds interest to this new and exciting quarter of London.