The vast Whitechapel Road Development in East London proposes six new and repurposed buildings rising from 3 to 12 storeys that will provide 860,000 sq ft of lab, research and teaching space.
Designed by architects Allies and Morrison and Gibson Thornley, the campus project will transform a series of outdated buildings and empty sites around the Royal London Hospital.
The new vision will provide a new commercial workplace, life science laboratories and higher education space alongside new public amenities including green spaces, squares, cafes and community spaces.
The ambitious regeneration scheme is supported by Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University London the Greater London Authority and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
An NHS Property Services spokesperson said: “The proposals will regenerate a series of outdated buildings and empty sites around the Royal London Hospital, being the catalyst in creating a thriving life science cluster.”
Hayden French, director at Allies and Morrison, said “We have been working closely with a broad range of stakeholders for over six years and I am thrilled that our life science cluster proposals have been approved by Tower Hamlets.”
“The Whitechapel Road project will be transformational for the East End bringing extensive new and improved public spaces, a group of contextual and responsible workplace buildings, and an ecosystem of new businesses to supplement the already rich and diverse Whitechapel neighbourhood.”
Matt Thornley, Co-founder of Gibson Thornley, said “The development will help cement Whitechapel as a major life science hub, bringing new jobs and knowledge to build upon the existing NHS sites and Queen Mary Campus.
“The approval by Tower Hamlets is a great milestone in delivering the scheme, and it will be exciting to see the regeneration of the area and improvements for the local community.”
The proposed scheme was originally set to start on site this year. It will now be referred to the Mayor of London for a final decision.
The client consultant team includes Structures: AKTII; Services: Arup; Cost: T&T Alinea.