Developers and health partners have formally submitted a planning application for a major new healthcare and research campus on land alongside The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
What has been proposed
Global real estate investment manager BGO, working with Barts Health NHS Trust, wants to build a one million square foot mixed-use development that the project team values at approximately £750m. The scheme, which forms part of the wider Barts Life Sciences Cluster, would centre on a purpose-built healthcare and research building designed by PLP Architects.
The new building would provide NHS facilities alongside flexible laboratory and innovation space aimed at companies in health technology, diagnostics, artificial intelligence and robotics. Project documents say moving non-clinical functions out of The Royal London Hospital into the new premises would free clinical capacity within the hospital for future services.
Housing, public space and staff facilities
The wider masterplan includes residential and public realm elements alongside the research hub. Highlights of the submission include:
- More than 500 homes across five new residential blocks and refurbished Victorian terraces
- Approximately 53% affordable housing, including 167 salary‑capped homes for NHS key workers
- About 3,600 sqm of publicly accessible green space and around 200 new trees
- A rooftop terrace with a 100m running track and sports facilities for NHS staff and building users
- An 800 sqm event space, public café and a proposed new home for the Royal London Hospital Museum
| Element | Proposed amount |
|---|---|
| Gross internal area (campus) | ~1,000,000 sq ft |
| Healthcare & research building | 64,427 sqm |
| Public green space | ~3,600 sqm |
| Affordable homes | ~53% of >500 homes (including 167 key-worker homes) |
Design and local impact
PLP Architects, the London practice behind the design, brings experience from previous biomedical and specialist healthcare projects. The application sets out ambitions to improve pedestrian permeability through the site, reopen routes and create publicly accessible open space, while consolidating certain hospital support services into a modern facility.
For local residents the scheme would mean significant change around Whitechapel: new housing, public realm improvements and the arrival of commercial research tenants. The mix of affordable housing, including homes reserved for NHS staff, is highlighted in the proposals as an attempt to address local housing needs while supporting the hospital workforce.
Next steps
The planning application has been submitted to Tower Hamlets Council. It will now be considered through the council’s planning process, which includes public consultation, statutory consultations with statutory bodies and technical assessments.
Details of the proposals can be examined on the council’s planning portal once the application is validated. Residents and local stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment during the consultation period.
This submission marks the first major development proposal in the area connected to the Barts Life Sciences Cluster to reach the planning stage; its progress will be of interest to local health staff, residents and businesses across Tower Hamlets.
