Urbanest’s 46-storey student digs set for approval

Urbanest’s £368m campus in Tower Hamlets, earmarked as a new home for University College London students, is set to be approved next week – alongside a drive-through McDonald’s that must remain part of the site. Student digs provider Urbanest has proposed three towers of 46, 36 and 28 storeys at the one-acre site at 2 Trafalgar Way, E14, close to Canary Wharf. The plans include 1,672 student rooms, 80 flats for staff, offices and retail space. The scheme has a gross development value of £367.8m, according to adviser Gerald Eve – £316.2m from the student accommodation, £38m for the residential and £13.6m for the commercial space. The site has been vacant for several years. In 2009, McDonald’s was granted permission for a build-to-rent scheme of more than 400 homes. Essential Living bought the site in 2014 and made some alterations to what was planned as the two-tower Helix development, but put the site up for sale four years later. Gerald Eve said the development has faced a number of issues including re-providing the McDonald’s drive-through restaurant, a legal requirement of any redevelopment. The restaurant had been on the site for a decade prior to its demolition. Tower Hamlets council’s report, which recommends the scheme for approval, said the buildings have been “thoughtfully designed” by architects at Apt and “would contribute positively to an existing diverse townscape, creating a landmark building and prestigious entrance to Canary Wharf”. To send feedback, e-mail tim.burke@eg.co.uk or tweet @_tim_burke or @EGPropertyNews Photo: Urbanest and Apt