Jenrick approves Richard Desmond’s £1bn Westferry Printworks

Robert Jenrick has approved plans for the redevelopment of Richard Desmond’s £1bn Westferry Printworks development on the Isle of Dogs, E14. The media tycoon will develop a mixed-use scheme of 1,524 flats on the former site of the presses for the Daily Express and Daily Star. Desmond’s property subsidiary Northern & Shell Investments lodged the plans for the 15-acre site in 2018, in partnership with development manager Mace. Initial plans for 722 homes were approved in 2016 by then mayor of London Boris Johnson. However, a fresh application was worked up with double the number of homes in response to the London Plan. Development will see five towers of up to 46 storeys, incorporating shops, offices, flexible workspace, restaurants and public realm. Northern & Shell appealed against Tower Hamlets’ non-determination of the application in April 2019. It came after councillors and local residents objected to the high-density scheme. The inspector also recommended that the appeal was dismissed. However, the secretary of state has backed the scheme, noting the considerable uplift of accommodation. Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs said: “I’d strongly objected to the revised plans due to their increased height and density as well as the lack of affordable housing. “By ignoring the concerns expressed by the council and residents as well as the Planning Inspectorate decision it sets a worrying precedent for developers to get decisions approved behind closed doors ignoring local democracy.” To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette