Trilogy Launches Republic at East India Dock
Trilogy Property and LaSalle Investment Management have today launched plans for Republic at East India. This is a major refurbishment and repositioning of an urban campus in London's Docklands designed to appeal to the next generation of creative and tech business.
Republic aims to stem the tide of young companies leaving London by creating 600,000 sq ft of truly affordable workplace that meets contemporary professional and personal needs, with a focus on the core values of creativity, connectivity and affordability. Completing in phases over the next five years, the development is expected to compete on price with key locations in the South East and major UK regional centres, coming in at half the price of current occupational costs in Shoreditch and just one third of the West End.
Robert Wolstenholme, Managing Director of Trilogy Property, said:
"There's a war for talent in London, and we want to make sure it's 'priced in' rather than priced out. As growing businesses move out of Shoreditch in droves, Republic will not only be affordable for this talented, next-gen workforce, it will be an environment which encourages a sense of innovation and community in a part of London fast becoming a new cultural and digital hub."
Republic's location, directly accessed by East India DLR station in E14, anticipates the eastward migration of the creative and digital sectors and cultural institutions, such as the English National Ballet's move to London City Island and Olympicopolis in Stratford, and enjoys a Zone 2 location and transport links which connects in minutes to the established business districts of Canary Wharf, the City and West End, as well as the cultural neighbourhoods of Stratford and Shoreditch.
As the primary home of the London Internet Exchange and one of the main conduits for internet traffic from the US to Europe, the Docklands offers a digital hub alongside its strong cultural heritage - the grassroots Trinity Buoy Wharf has been host to local artist studios and cultural bodies since 1996.
Andrew Meyrick, Regional Director, LaSalle Investment Management, which is funding the project, said:
"Republic at East India is strategically located in the fastest growing borough in the UK, which is already benefitting from changing demographics and the impact of tech on demand for contemporary workspace. Republic will quickly meet this growing demand by providing competitively priced space that will appeal to innovators and creatives looking for a stimulating work and lifestyle environment in London."
The plans by award-winning architect Studio RHE completely transform the existing first-generation Docklands office development to create a dynamic environment that embodies contemporary work practice - a highly collaborative campus that will embrace concepts such as wellbeing and sustainability. Clever architectural intervention and a careful choice of materials aim to reposition the asset without driving up operating costs.
Extensive landscaping replaces the streets of the original 1990s development, using planting, open water and trees to create a series of external spaces defined by timber porticos and colonnades. Colourful and aromatic planting has been specially chosen to absorb pollution, and takes inspiration from the area's history as one of London's busiest and most influential trading ports for spices. New facades housing independent retail and food offers will open to this space, creating a rich variety of amenity available to tenants.
The Republic brand, conceived by marketing strategists Simon Turnbull and Andrew Hale and designed by renowned graphic designer Tom Hingston, has developed alongside the bold design and reflects the workplace's location in the heart of the 'new east'.
The first phases of the masterplan include the transformation of both Anchorage and Capstan House into 225,000 sq ft and 200,000 sq ft respectively of substantially refurbished space. Work is already underway to create a circa 10,000 sq ft co-working and event space with a rooftop bar in Anchorage House, with views over the East London skyline.
Trilogy Property and investor LaSalle Investment Management have appointed Allsop and CBRE as office agents and CF Commercial and CBRE as retail agents for the scheme.