Box Lane, Dagenham

The client controlled an important but woefully underused rail freight interchange in east London in an area that was undergoing dramatic change. The brief was to explore how the potential of the site could be maximised in order to interest potential buyers.

SP&D produced an initial apprasail which explained how the London Plan strongly supported the transport of goods by rail, protected railheads, encouraged the intensification of Strategic Industrial Locations such as this and promoted innovative and multi level/multi storey schemes. The appraisal also explained the emerging Local Plan’s aspirations to transform the local area and that the site was the key to this by accommodating displaced employment uses. The Plan also supported tall buildings on the site and resisted residential development nearby that could prejudice the potential of the site being maximised. The appraisal informed the architect’s feasibility study for the site and was a key document that informing the decision making of potential purchasers.