Joint venture partners shortlisted for London SIP

With three potential joint venture partners now shortlisted by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) to participate in a competitive dialogue, the development of the London Sustainable Industries Park (SIP) in Dagenham is moving along at a pace.  

The LTGDC is spearheading the development of the first of a new breed of business parks based at Dagenham Dock, to accommodate, support and grow environmental technology businesses and sustainable industries. The London Sustainable Industries Park will enable businesses to develop synergies, maximise resource efficiency and innovation and minimise waste. And with the largest market in the UK on its doorstep it offers unrivalled business opportunities for forward looking sustainable industries.

Gazeley, Goodman and Easter Group are the three strongest contenders and were shortlisted from a long list of interested parties responding to the search for a partner for the London SIP that was launched in May. A period of intensive dialogue aimed at working up the content of detailed tender proposals will now commence and is expected to end in August.  By the autumn the London SIP joint venture partner is expected to be known.

The shortlisting coincides with LTGDC bringing on board Sergison Bates as architects for the SIP development framework. Their design team will now draw up a vision for the overall site and its links to the surrounding areas, detailing the infrastructure provision and laying out guidelines for the design of the public realm and development of individual plots.

Mark Bradbury, Deputy Development Director at LTGDC, said: "We've had a good response to our call for a development partner and the three contenders we will be talking to are well known for their expertise and professionalism. With Sergison Bates on board as well to put a shape to the Dagenham Dock site, the next month is looking like yet another period where we can report that progress on delivering the London SIP continues unabated."

The London SIP continues to win allies in high places with strong backing provided by both the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency (LDA). At recent conference Futuresource, Mark Brearley, from the LDA, said: "The Mayor and the LDA are big fans of the Sustainable Industries Park in Dagenham. We know this idea is going to work and we are relying on it as the pilot for a wider Green Enterprise District, stretching from the Lea Valley, through the Royal Docks, and beyond."