Royal Docks Waterways seeks feasibility study for proposed Floating Residential vision

The Royal Docks Team, a partnership between the Mayor of London and Mayor of Newham, has identified the southern edge of Royal Victoria Dock West as a potential site for a floating residential development. Experienced design teams are invite to express their interest in delivering a feasibility study for the Royal Victoria Dock West vision.

The opportunity is to create a welcoming, well-designed and environmentally led residential community on the water, supported by shared social and communal facilities that serve both waterside residents and the surrounding neighbourhood. The ambition is to establish a new benchmark for water-based living in London, combining high-quality design with strong community integration.

The next phase of work will advance the Floating Residential concept to the feasibility stage, testing the viability of a residential proposition and identifying how an initial phase could be delivered.

Alongside this, Royal Docks Waterways is seeking a client-side Design Advisor and Champion to support the delivery of the wider Royal Victoria Dock West Vision. This role will work across projects to help coordinate design quality, coherence and ambition as individual schemes come forward, ensuring a consistent and high-quality approach across the dock.

The Royal Docks Team is a partnership between the Mayor of London (the GLA is the freeholder of the water) and the Mayor of Newham, responsible for steering the regeneration of the Royal Docks. The Vision identifies the southern edge of Royal Victoria Dock West as a suitable location to explore Floating Residential as a Priority Project. 

The Vision document, including the indicative location and proposed strategic approach to Floating Residential, is available to download. Further detail is set out within the Expression of Interest pack.

This will form one of three Priority Projects set out in the vision to total 4.6% of the waterspace at Royal Docks. Floating Residential will be joined by Floating Park and Floating Wellness to bring biodiversity and leisure activities to the area.  By estimated completion date of 2030, the vision will have provided a community on the water, supporting the delivery of 35,000 homes and 55,000 jobs. 

Those interested in participating in the delivery of a multidisciplinary feasibility study should enquiry by 22 March 2026. This next stage will test how an initial phase could be delivered from concept.