Our London team supports Silvertown
Colleagues in London have had a busy start to 2023 – not only by welcoming more new colleagues to our 115-strong team, but also with ongoing work on some of the city’s most talked about developments. Here, principal fire engineer, Matt Stallwood talks about how we have been involved at East London’s pioneering Silvertown development.
The masterplan for the 50 acre Silvertown site, will see a huge transformation for this area of East London. It will bring homes, offices, leisure, cultural and community space to the location and we’re thrilled to be advising our client, the developer Lendlease and assisting with the fire strategy. Plans were submitted in December, following consultation with the local residential and business community, to ensure that the £3.5bn regeneration in a dockside location will provide a unique new neighbourhood.
As project manager, working alongside my local OFR colleagues Steven Ferreira and Mark Norris along with project director Steward Dabin, with project engineers Motasem Zaid, Felix Terrell, Chloe Harrop and Calum Annetts, we have been appointed extensively across the site as it progresses through the development stages. With additional support from Bicester-based OFR technical reviewer Ben McColl, we are assisting with the Masterplan development for the entire development as well as on RIBA Stages 2 – 4 for Plots 6, 7, 8 Millennium Mills (pictured below) and 1D/2D. We have also been appointed for RIBA stage 2 of plot 1 and for plot 1J.
Our OFR team is currently the sole fire engineering consultancy across the plots, where the scheme primarily comprises of new residential buildings. The landmark Millennium Mills, which will be transformed for a commercial purpose and presents the challenge of trying to retain as much as possible while still meeting the requirements of current building standards.
As part of our scope, we are also prioritising sustainability by incorporating Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and assessing the complexities relating to fire safety. The incorporation of MMC is intended to reduce construction time and have a positive effect on reducing carbon emissions.
With works not due to complete until midway through the 2030s, we are committed to providing our ongoing expertise to support this huge project and look forward to playing an important role within its progress.
