The Chinese developer selected to deliver the transformation of part of the Royal Albert Dock in east London could be stripped of its role in weeks because of a lack of progress with the £1bn scheme, masterplanned by Farrells.

In 2013, then Mayor of London Boris Johnson agreed the selection of ABP (London) Investment to regenerate a 15ha swathe of dockside. At the time the deal was supposed to deliver 2.5 million sq ft of office space, as well as leisure, retail and serviced apartments – creating a “vibrant 24/7 location” by 2021-2022. The project was touted as “London’s third business district”.

In an interview with Building Design’s sister title Building in 2017, ABP chairman Xu Weiping said he expected to hire architects for the detailed design of phase 2 later that year, with a view to being on site with that phase in the second half of 2018.

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