East Wick & Sweetwater, E20 London, UK

As masterplanner and architect, Sheppard Robson is taking a leading role – alongside Studio Egret West – in the design of the next stage of the development of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP). The East Wick and Sweetwater project will provide approximately 1500 new homes – 30% of which are affordable – to create new residential-led neighbourhoods of a high architectural quality that feel connected to the surrounding communities and amenities, which include the remarkable facilities created for London 2012.

For client Balfour Beatty and Places for People, Sheppard Robson is working with a design team comprised of Studio Egret West (joint masterplanners), Astudio, Alison Brookes Architects, Piercy and Co, Shedkm and Fabrik. Drawing the talents of these leading practices together, the design ambition is to create a varied but cohesive architectural language with a clear and thoughtful masterplan that makes the most of the site’s unique properties.

The masterplan amends the existing outline planning consents to fully integrate the new neighbourhood into the surrounding neighbourhood, playing a crucial part in mending the gap in urban fabric between Hackney Wick, River Lea Navigation and the QEOP. The scheme provides new vistas to the Olympic Velodrome and explores the opportunity to forge stronger links between Canal Park and Queen Elizabeth Park and encourage people into the new development.

The masterplan will be designed over seven phases, beginning with East Wick. The buildings are of a consistently high design throughout the development and create a family of architectural styles that helps build a genuine sense of community. A wide range of accommodation is proposed including terraced housing, park front town houses, duplex homes, canal side blocks and apartments. It will also include various community facilities including a medical centre, small scale work places, retail units, and new primary schools to serve both areas.

Sheppard Robson is designing a number of residential buildings as well as retail and community facilities. The practice’s residential designs occupy prominent locations around the park, including contemporary townhouse terraces that face Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, defining the relationship between the new development and the surrounding green spaces.