Greenwich Beach seeks ‘world class’ architect

The developer of a £700m mixed-use scheme on the banks of the Thames in South-east London is set to run an architectural competition in a bid to find a “world class” architect for the project.

The 2 million ft2 residential and office-led project, dubbed Greenwich Beach and proposed on a regeneration site on the Greenwich Peninsula next to the 02 Arena, is being developed by Cathedral Group and Development Securities after the two purchased the 19 acre plot at Morden Wharf.

This follows other moves on the peninsula, including Hong Kong investor Knight Dragon’s £300m investment in Quintain’s 150 acre mixed-use scheme in June.

Chief executive of Cathedral Group, Richard Upton, told Building he wants to see a “world class” architect appointed.

We are looking for the best and most imaginative solution we can find

Richard Upton, Cathedral Group

The developer is also running a separate competition for the £100m redevelopment of an old fruit market in Brighton involving architects AHMM, ShedKM, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, John McAslan and Make.

Upton said of Greenwich Beach: “We intend to get a brief perfect by the end of the year and will probably have an architectural competition with probably four architectural firms.

“We expect to give them a month to do it early in the new year. We are looking for the best and most imaginative solution we can find. The site deserves world class architecture so it’s going to be a world class architect.”

The masterplan for the site, which includes 500m of Thames frontage, will reflect Greenwich council’s ambition to link with “historic Greenwich” and will focus development around the growing sports, entertainment and educational facilities on the peninsula.

Upton added: “As with many of Cathedral’s projects, we will be seeking to deliver immediate and worthwhile short-term uses that start to create real sense of place at Morden Wharf.”