Emirati firm unveils plans for £2.5bn new town with 5,000 homes in east London

By MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL) Published: 15:48, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 15:55, 21 July 2026 A Dubai-based property developer founded by Middle Eastern royalty has unveiled the first phase of its plans for a £2.5billion regeneration of east London. Arada is proposing a 1,500-home development called 'Thameside West' in the once-neglected Royal Docks area, as part of a wider project to build 5,000 properties. The first phase of the landmark scheme facing The O2 in North Greenwich across the River Thames will involve the construction of six buildings and a public park. Arada was co-founded by Saudi Arabia's Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal and Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed al-Qasimi of Sharjah, a city in the United Arab Emirates. It bought an 80 per cent stake in Thameside West from London developer Keystone last November, paying £225million and pledging to invest a further £100million. The acquisition was one of London's biggest land deals in recent years. If approval is given to the planning application once submitted, work on site could start in 2028. Arada has chosen architecture firm Gensler, design consultancy Arup and landscape architect Planit to work on the first stage, with wider designs by Foster + Partners. Planners say almost half the site will be green space alongside 0.6 miles (1km) of waterfront – and that 35 per cent of the 5,000 new homes will be affordable. Arada is proposing a 1,500-home development called 'Thameside West' at the Royal Docks The first phase of the scheme will involve the construction of six buildings and a public park Thamesside West is located opposite the The O2 (the development is centre left, highlighted) How the Royal Docks area currently appears ahead of the major planned transformation Thameside West is located on a 47-acre space along London's longest stretch of undeveloped riverfront at Royal Docks, one of Europe's largest regeneration areas. Developers are also working with Transport for London (TfL) on a new Docklands Light Railway station to open in time for the arrival of the site's first residents. This would see them contribute £9million towards building the station called Thames Wharf, which would be halfway between Canning Town and West Silvertown. Arada group chief executive Ahmed Alkhoshaibi said: 'Large-scale developments such as Thameside West require a huge amount of collaboration, ensuring that new housing is delivered alongside amenities and public infrastructure.' He added: 'We remain committed to working with our partners to ensure that this first phase and future phases are designed to meet modern living requirements over this multi-year project.' Plans for Thameside West were first unveiled in 2019 with a scheme centred on the former Carlsberg brewery building in Silvertown, known as the Silver Building. The project has faced delays due to issues such as the housing market slowdown and new fire safety rules, but it now has fresh momentum from the Arada acquisition. Tom Copley, London's deputy mayor for housing, said: 'I am delighted that Arada is moving ahead with the first stage of redeveloping Thameside West, one of the key sites within the Royal Docks. The Royal Albert Dock and King George V Dock, part of the Royal Docks, are seen in 1949 Cars are sent to South Africa from the Royal Albert Dock, part of the Royal Docks, in 1945 2,000 dock workers at a meeting outside the Royal Albert Dock as they go on strike in 1947 A horse drawn van carries goods at King George V Dock, part of the Royal Docks, in 1942 'Working together we will be able to deliver at least 5,000 new homes, 35 per cent of which will be affordable, as we continue to return this part of the capital to its former glory and create a better, fairer, greener London for everyone.' And Newham Mayor Forhad Hussain added: 'Thameside West is one of the most exciting regeneration opportunities in Newham, and I welcome this important milestone providing much-needed homes, stunning new green spaces and better transport for our borough. 'As Newham continues to grow, it is vital that regeneration delivers real benefits for local people through affordable housing, jobs, investment and better infrastructure.' The Royal Docks area of London was once the world's largest enclosed dock system, built between 1855 and 1921 to accommodate the huge ships of the British Empire. But the area covering 250 acres which included Royal Victoria, Royal Albert and King George V docks fell into decline after the rise of containerised shipping in the 1960s. From the 1980s, the wider region underwent a major transformation which included the opening of London City Airport, the Docklands Light Railway and the ExCel. Now, the Royal Docks area is being billed as the biggest regeneration project in London, with over £5billion being invested in the area over the next two decades.