Competition launched to design masterplan for £8bn project

A competition has been launched to find the masterplanners who will help shape a £8bn new waterfront development in South-East London.

It has been launched by the Thamesmead Waterfront Joint Venture, which comprises the housing association Peabody and developers Lendlease.

The first stage of the competition is an open call, which will invite up to 10 collaborative teams to meet with the Joint Venture on the basis of their expressions of interest.

These should include an illustrated think piece and other materials to demonstrate the team’s approach to design, their skills, visionary thinking, expertise and commitment to diversity and the involvement of smaller practices.

The project team will then shortlist no more than five teams to progress to Stage two in December – with a final winner to be selected in March 2021.

Thamesmead is a town in South-East London and is the same size as central London.

The area measures around 760 hectares, with Peabody owning around 65% of the land.

It is currently home to 45,000 people and the homes are spread broadly across nine neighbourhoods.

‘This is a really exciting opportunity for us all to reflect on some really important questions for how we’ll want to live in the future,’ said Peabody’s executive director for Thamesmead, John Lewis.

‘In a post-pandemic world, the project can be a catalyst to making a step change in how we want and need places to be. With the right transport interventions, Thamesmead Waterfront can drive our economic recovery; creating new jobs, homes, and businesses within a thriving and sustainable new town.’

The managing director of development for Lendlease in Europe, Bek Seeley added: ‘We are looking to tap into imaginative minds from the UK and around the world as we plan the town of tomorrow for Thamesmead, and we’re looking forward to seeing the collaborations and creativity this competition will inspire. It is an opportunity for a wide range of individuals and organisations to think big and bold about what the future of our cities might be, and how Thamesmead Waterfront can lead in making that vision a reality.’

The competition will be run by Colander Associates. For more information and to see the detailed brief please visit their website here.

Photo Credit – Peabody (Supplied)