After two previous failed attempts by other architectural firms, Metropolitan Workshop has successfully secured approval for a major student housing project in Stratford, east London. Newham Council's strategic development committee unanimously approved the firm's design for student living developer and operator Dominus on November 11, marking the end of a lengthy approval process that has stretched over several years.

The approved project will feature a mixed-height building with sections of 10, 12, and 31 stories located at 302-312 High Street. The development will house 692 student rooms along with a 178-square-meter pub, plus both hard and soft landscaping improvements to enhance the public realm. The approval represents a significant milestone for the site, which has been the subject of development proposals for the past three years.

The site's development history began when the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), the former local planning authority, first approved student accommodation designs for the location. The initial scheme was created by Henley Halebrown and featured a 25-story tower containing 465 student rooms, complemented by a 12-story section and outdoor amenity space positioned on the 13th floor. However, this project encountered serious obstacles related to financial viability and rising construction costs, ultimately leading to the approval's expiration.

The second attempt came from Howells, whose proposal was rejected by the planning inspectorate in March of this year after initially being turned down by the LLDC in July 2024. Howells' ambitious design called for a mixed-use development with 12 and 34-story sections, accommodating 700 student rooms alongside 801 square meters of workspace, a 177-square-meter pub, and various landscaping improvements. The rejection was primarily due to concerns about the tower's excessive height.

Metropolitan Workshop, which has been actively involved in several development projects throughout east London, was subsequently brought in to redesign the site. The firm submitted their revised plans in July of this year, taking into account the previous rejections and community concerns. Crucially, their design is three stories shorter than Howells' rejected tower, addressing the height concerns that had derailed the earlier proposal.

All three development schemes have involved the demolition of primarily vacant buildings along Stratford High Street. The structures slated for removal include a pub that has remained closed since 2020, former residential units that are no longer in use, and a building that previously housed a local Labour Party office. The redevelopment of these underutilized properties is seen as an opportunity to revitalize this section of the high street.

While the project has received the green light from local authorities, developers have not yet announced a specific timeline for completion. The approval marks a significant step forward for student housing in the Stratford area, which has seen increased demand as the district continues to develop following the 2012 Olympics legacy projects.