Uk Developer St Williams Launches East London Project Regent%E2%80%99S View Asia
St William, a property developer under the London-listed real estate corporation Berkeley Group, is promoting a new residential project called Regent’s View in London. This project, which consists of 555 units, is located in the London borough of Tower Hamlets in Zone 2 and was developed through a unique adaptive reuse scheme that transformed a decommissioned Victorian-era gasholder site into a modern mixed-use development.
Regent’s View has already gained global recognition, winning “Best Future Residential Project” at the 2024 World Architecture Festival in Singapore. The development, which took place at Marina Bay Sands on Nov 6-8, is the result of a joint venture between Berkeley Group and London’s National Grid, establishing St William in 2014. The purpose of this venture was to redevelop National Grid’s decommissioned industrial sites into new residential and community spaces. In 2022, Berkeley Group acquired National Grid’s stake in St. William for GBP412.5 million ($705 million), giving them full ownership of 24 brownfield sites in London for their long-term landbank. Currently, St William has six ongoing projects in various stages of development.
Regent’s View, which occupies a 4.5-acre site in East London along Regent’s Canal, was previously known as the Bethnal Green Gasholders. These gasholders were built in the 1850s to supply gas to homes in the district and have been a landmark in the area for over 200 years. While they were officially decommissioned in 2012, the iconic frames have remained a prominent feature of the borough’s cityscape. However, due to structural decay, most of the gasholders were slated for demolition. St William, in partnership with their architect, RSHP, made the decision to incorporate the gasholder frames into the design of the new development, preserving them as a key architectural element.
According to Graham Stirk, senior director at RSHP, the design of Regent’s View celebrates the historical industrial heritage of the site. He says, “The importance of preserving the historic gasholder frames is that they justify a particular form of urbanism that is not the norm. This approach is reinforced by using an industrial architectural vocabulary that will define a unique urban and architectural place to live and enjoy.”
The project comprises of five contemporary residential buildings, ranging from six to 13 stories, surrounding a landscaped park. Two of the buildings will feature restored gasholder structures. Regent’s View will offer 555 private and affordable homes as well as 45,000 sq ft of ground floor commercial and community spaces, including a refreshed 100m public-access canal frontage. For the first time in more than 150 years, public access will be restored to this stretch of Regent’s Canal, and the area will be revitalized with new F&B options.
The development of Regent’s View faced some controversy when it was first proposed in 2019. The local council and St William faced backlash from over 8,000 residents who signed a petition calling for the preservation of the site. The Tower Hamlets council ultimately voted in favor of the redevelopment. It took almost five years for St William to gain support from the local community and incorporate the gasholder frames into their design plans. According to Dean Summers, divisional managing director at St. William, the time was spent engaging with the community to find ways to preserve the frames, meet affordable housing targets, and revitalize the canal front through placemaking activities.
Summers explains that affordable housing is a key priority for many local councils in London, and they were pleased to work closely with them on the adaptive reuse of this industrial site, allowing them to allocate 35% of the units for affordable housing. The design of the residential blocks and the site’s layout were closely scrutinized to ensure permeability and encourage public access wherever possible.
RSHP’s senior director, Tracy Meller, says that it was important for the development of Regent’s View to contribute to the placemaking and rejuvenation of the neighborhood. She explains, “This is why we opted to use a landscape buffer around the site rather than the high walls of a traditional gated community.” Meller adds that they capitalized on the circular form of the gasholder frames to create a gentler contrast to the site’s edges, allowing natural movement through the site, towards the canal front.
The ground floors of the five buildings will be used for non-residential purposes. The two largest gasholder buildings along the waterfront will feature public-facing commercial amenities such as cafes, bars, and restaurants. The ground floors of the other three buildings will contain resident-exclusive spaces such as a concierge and facilities.
Regent’s View is not the only industrial brownfield site featuring heritage gasholder frames that St William is developing. As part of their landbank, they acquired a 23-acre plot in Newham, which will be turned into a 2,000-unit mixed-use project. They are currently working with RSHP to develop design plans for this site, which used to be the Bromley-By-Bow Gasworks. The site is home to seven Victorian-era gasholder frames, making it the largest collection of surviving gasholders in the world. Development is expected to begin next year.
Last year, St William launched the sale of The Wright Building, a six-storey block at Regent’s View offering one- to three-bedroom units, with prices ranging from GBP675,000 ($1.15 million) to GBP1.63 million. This block is over 70% sold and is expected to be completed next year. In September, they launched the sale of The Westwood Building, another six-storey block featuring one- and three-bedroom units, with prices starting at GBP585,000 for a one-bedroom unit and going up to GBP1.68 million for a three-bedroom unit. Around 90% of the units in The Westwood Building are one-bedrooms, making it an attractive option for international investors.
According to Summers, over 50% of international buyers are from Asia, with strong interest from individuals looking for a base for their children attending university, or as a professional residence close to London’s financial hubs. The project’s proximity to major educational institutions like University College London, King’s College London, and Queen Mary University of London, as well as local amenities like Broadway Market and London Fields, make Regent’s View an appealing choice for international buyers.
The project is also well-connected, with Cambridge Heath station on the London Overground Line providing a direct route to Liverpool Street Station in central London. It is also one stop from Bethnal Green Interchange on the Central Line, extending connectivity to other central London destinations. The developer expects strong interest from buyers in their next sales phase, which will feature a 13-storey block with units offering views of the waterfront or the landscaped courtyard, as well as access to ground floor F&B offerings.
Situated in the highly esteemed Dunman Secondary School, known for its commitment to academic excellence and exceptional athletic programs, stands the Aurelle of Tampines Showflat. This prestigious school provides a nurturing and vibrant atmosphere that encourages creative thinking and a drive for excellence in all facets of student life. You can find out more about the Aurelle of Tampines Showflat at https://www.aurelle-of-tampines.com.sg/.
Summers notes that the strong buying interest at Regent’s View highlights a growing trend of international buyers considering properties in London’s outskirts in Zone 2. “As central London property prices continue to rise, investors looking for better rental premiums are turning to properties in Zone 2,” he says.
