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Thameside West in London's Royal Docks: what Arada's planning applications for nearly 1,500 homes and a seven-acre park mean, with a new DLR station planned

Arada has submitted a series of planning applications to the London Borough of Newham for the first stage of Thameside West, a riverfront regeneration site of more than 47 acres in the Royal Docks with a gross development value of AED 12 billion, according to Arada's planning announcement of 28 September 2026. The first stage comprises nearly 1,500 homes in six buildings, the first two of them 100% social rent, around a new seven-acre park with about 1,000 new trees. The whole site has the potential for at least 5,000 homes.

Al Mithaq news desk · Published 7 November 2026 · Updated 7 November 2026 · Source: Arada newsroom

Arada's computer-generated image of the planned riverside promenade at Thameside West in London's Royal Docks: people walking and cycling between new apartment buildings with cafes and a landscaped park, with the River Thames behind, in summer daylight. Picture: Arada

~1,500homes in six buildings in stage one

7 acresnew park with about 1,000 new trees

5,000+homes possible on the site of more than 47 acres

What Arada filed

In its announcement of 28 September 2026, Arada said it had submitted a series of planning applications to the London Borough of Newham to advance Thameside West. Building on the existing hybrid planning permission, the plans set out the first stage: nearly 1,500 new homes across six buildings, the first two of which will be 100% social rent and will include three- and four-bedroom family homes. The buildings are organised around streets, gardens, parks and shared spaces, with ground floor units facing the park for amenities such as cafes and restaurants. Gensler, Arup and Planit are advising on the scheme.

The park, the waterfront and the new DLR station

At the heart of the proposals is a new seven-acre park with around 1,000 new trees, play spaces and woodland areas, together with a kilometre of active waterfront and a riverside walk along Bell Lane. A community design group of 20 local residents is helping to shape part of the park. Arada says it is progressing design work with Transport for London on a new DLR station, intended to open in time for the arrival of the first residents. The DLR recorded 97.8 million passenger journeys in the year ended March 2025.

The site and the timetable

Thameside West spans more than 47 acres in the Royal Docks, opposite The O2 and next to City Hall, and Arada describes it as the capital's longest stretch of undeveloped riverfront. The existing planning permission secures the potential for at least 5,000 homes, including 35% affordable homes, with green space on half of the site. The project is being brought forward with the Greater London Authority through its land and property company GLAP. In its 21 July 2026 announcement Arada said work on site was expected to begin by early 2028, subject to approval, and that Arada London would build the first phase in-house.

Why it mattersOur view for a Kuwaiti buyer: this is a planning stage, not a sales launch. No homes at Thameside West are on sale yet, and Arada has published no prices. What the filing shows is the direction of East London: a large riverside site opposite The O2, next to City Hall, is moving towards new homes, a big park and its own DLR station, with the Greater London Authority as partner. New transport and green space are what usually make a district easier to live in and to let, but plans can change at the approval stage, so treat dates as targets. If you want a home from the same developer now, Arada London already sells finished and under-construction homes in Wembley Park and Swiss Cottage, and we can send you the details.

What Al Mithaq adds

Al Mithaq is an authorised broker for Arada London and for London Square. Our London page shows Arada London homes you can buy today: Fulton & Fifth in Wembley Park, a completed building from £427,500, and 100 Avenue Road in Swiss Cottage, 172 apartments above Swiss Cottage station due in Q4 2028, from £795,000. Our London desk in Kuwait can send floor plans and payment plans, and will tell you when Thameside West homes open for sale.