Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —
Certified B Corporation — Adaptive Retrofit — Humanising Infrastructure — Making better places — Architecture — Public Realm — Spatial Strategy — Creative Reuse — Urban Transformation — Decarbonisation —

Royal Docks Corridor— London

Client(s)

London Borough of Newham / GLA Royal Docks Team

Collaborator(s)

Alan Baxters / JCLA / Studio Dekka

5th Studio led design work for a partnership of Newham Council and the GLA’s Royal Docks Team to transform the street environment along Silvertown Way and North Woolwich Road. With valuable input from on the public realm and highway design from Alan Baxter Ltd, these works have now been successfully delivered by Newham’s highways team. The result represents an exemplary new public realm, drawing on the Mayor of London’s Healthy Streets principles.

The work follows on from our overall connective strategy: the Royal Docks Public Realm Framework (2020), and Design Guides, establishing a golden thread between large scale strategy and delivery on the ground.

Silvertown Way and North Woolwich Road are busy, abrasive environments: the highway layout is the legacy of infrastructure engineered to cope with the height of traffic from the Royal Docks. The poor-quality environment and low levels of pedestrian and cyclist comfort have resulted in the spaces being poorly used. These roads are now the spine that connects both existing communities in North Woolwich and growing mixed-use regeneration, including at Silvertown Quays. London’s City Hall is now adjacent to Silvertown Way, and forms an important destination.

Our interventions create people-friendly streets by reducing traffic volumes and speeds, and separated cycle routes, making it easier, safer, and more convenient to get around by foot, bike, and public transport, including acting as the threshold to existing DLR stations. The works feature one of the longest sustainable urban drainage installations in Europe.

Alongside linear movement along the corridor, the improvements provide wider pavements, better crossings and new public spaces, stitching the corridor into the surrounding development, It is hoped that these ambitions benefit the whole area, supporting recreational and utility routes, encouraging residents and visitors to spend more time in the area, and improving both air quality and climate resilience.

5th Studio has worked with JCLA to ensure that planting strategies are included to support sustainable urban drainage and to set the ambition for high levels of urban greening. Studio Dekka developed lighting proposals for public spaces, recognising that the corridor is a 24-hour environment in which lighting will be key to supporting the community’s safety.

The project was further designed and delivered by Newham’s Highways & Sustainable Transport team. Contractors included Kenson Highways, FM Conway, Tarmac Kier Joint Venture, BlueSky Landscaping Ltd, Naio Ltd and Meristem Design.

The works were delivered in phases from late 2021 through to late 2024.

CA3 - The first phase of works completed in 2023, bringing improved cycling provisions, lighting and wider footways.
CA3 - The first phase of works is supporting the delivery of North Woolwich Road as a key public space for the Royal Docks
CA3 - Reductions in carriageway widths have provided opportunities for the introduction of extensive SuDS, soft landscaping and trees
CA3 - Segregated cycle tracks and landscaping will provide a buffer from the carriageway for pedestrians, making it a more attractive space to pause

The Royal Docks Corridor scheme includes Silvertown Way and the section of North Woolwich Road up to Connaught Bridge, and is approximately 3km long. To help describe the proposals and to understand the specific typologies along its length, the scheme has been divided into four character areas:

  • Character Area 1 - Canning Town (from Canning Town Station up to Nelson St)
  • Character Area 2 - Silvertown Way Viaduct (from Nelson St up to Britannia Gate)
  • Character Area 3 - Britannia Village (from Britannia Gate up to Admiralty Ave)
  • Character Area 4 - New Neighbourhoods (from Admiralty Ave up to Connaught Bridge)
CA2 - Existing view looking south along Silvertown Way, opposite Tidal Basin Road - An example of where pedestrian routes are non-continuous, with footways closed due to a lack of safe crossings or adequate pavement width
CA3 - Existing view looking east along North Woolwich Road, near West Silvertown DLR - The combined impact of the DLR viaduct and the width of North Woolwich Road creates an infrastructural no man's land, which surrounding developments turn their backs to

Character Area 1 - Canning Town

Key proposed changes in this location include:

  • Wider pavements to create more space for pedestrians, and to accommodate street furniture such as benches and cycle stands, and outdoor seating areas
  • A new segregated cycle lane with new planting and street trees next to the road to create more distance between drivers and cyclists/ pedestrians
  • A new pedestrian crossing, south of Hallsville Road
CA1 - Silvertown Way, section between the junctions with Hallsville Road and Brunel Street, looking south
CA2 - Silvertown Way, on the viaduct structure looking south towards Tidal Basin Road

Character Area 2 - Silvertown Way Viaduct

Key proposed changes at this location include:

  • The road width reduced, with one lane of traffic in each direction
  • Improved pavements with new high quality paving materials
  • New cycle lanes segregated from the road, with large planters where possible to create a green buffer
  • A new pedestrian and cycle crossing at the junction with Tidal Basin Road
  • The previously inaccessible pavement on the south/west side of the road will be widened and opened for pedestrians to use
  • Opportunities for community-led public art, new planting in raised planters, and low-level planting in some locations
CA3 - North Woolwich Road looking east towards Oasis Academy, near West Silvertown Station

Character Area 3 - Britannia Village

Key proposed changes at this location include:

  • The road width reduced, with one lane of traffic in each direction
  • An improved pedestrian crossing near the new Oasis Academy
  • New segregated cycle lanes in both directions
  • Low level planted areas with sustainable drainage systems to collect run-off rainwater into the raingardens
  • New trees planted where possible and subject to utilities underground
  • Opportunities for outdoor activities under the DLR viaduct structure
  • Specific areas for new seating and street furniture to keep pavements clear
  • Entrances to side roads leading off North Woolwich Road have been narrowed to improve safety at junctions, and include pedestrian priority crossings across side roads, where possible
CA4 - North Woolwich Road looking east towards Pontoon Dock Station

Character Area 4 - New Neighbourhoods

Key proposed changes at this location include:

  • A large new public space next to Pontoon Dock DLR station, creating opportunities for events and activities
  • The new public space will link to Thames Barrier Park and create a key north/south link to the park across North Woolwich Road
  • A new pedestrian crossing near the station
  • A combination of low-level planting and raised planters, with a variety of species to increase biodiversity
  • Resurfacing of the entire area with more attractive and durable materials to cater for increased footfall near the station
  • Introducing new seating areas with planting and playful elements for informal play
  • New creative wayfinding to key destinations
  • Potential to accommodate cycle hire facilities in the future
CA4 - North Woolwich Road looking east towards Thames Road

Character Area 4 - Connaught Bridge and approaches

Key proposed changes at this location include:

  • Removing a section of North Woolwich roundabout and changing the road layout to a ‘Give-way’ junction
  • A large new public space for the local community under the DLR viaduct structure. This includes a variety of planting and new semi-mature trees to improve biodiversity, places to sit, and new permeable surfaces
  • New segregated cycle lanes in both directions on the southern side of North Woolwich Road
  • New pavements with planting and street trees along the edge to create a green buffer from the road

Related

Royal Docks Public Realm Framework — London

Developing and guiding the delivery of a comprehensive public realm framework for London’s Royal Docks

Royal Docks Design Guides — London

Detailed design guidance to steer the delivery of coherent public realm in the Royal Docks

Vauxhall Cross — London

Transformation of one of London's busiest gyratories to create a new transport interchange, bus station and improved public realm

CONTACT

studio@5thstudio.co.uk

We are keen to receive CVs and short portfolios from Part 1 and Part 2 designers. Please contact us via recruitment@5thstudio.co.uk

We actively encourage qualified applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

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