The Pool of London provides a visual gateway to the City of London from the Thames and is the historic port of London. Several key existing buildings are likely to become vacant in the short term and this provides an opportunity to enhance and renew the area to provide a high-quality environment for businesses, visitors and residents.

The site has one of the most diverse backdrops of any site in the UK. For example, the heritage of the Tower of London and many other historic buildings, as well as a square mile backdrop full of landmark skyscrapers and the highest land values anywhere in Western Europe. Today, despite its central location and proximity to major tourist attractions (e.g. the Tower of London World Heritage Site) the space is underused. 

Lower Thames Street plays a key role in isolating the area from the rest of the City, and there are no tube or train stations within the area. Still, there is well-served public transport just outside the area, such as London Bridge Station, Tower Hill and Monument Underground Stations, Tower Gateway DLR Station and the bus route along Eastcheap. River passenger services operate from Tower Pier. 

Given its huge commercial & recreational potential, the area has been defined as a ‘Key Areas of Change’ in London’s City Plan for 2036. The real challenge is how can this area be used, to add value to London without detracting from its many assets.

Approx. site area:

3 Ha.

Key Information:

The area is commercial in character, with some residential and hotel use, and small-scale retail adjacent to the Tower of London.

Priority areas & main expectations:

• Develop new & innovative cultural uses for the site, whilst continuing to encourage office-led commercial development in the area.
•  Activate ground floors to provide publicly accessible retail, cultural and leisure uses
• Improve pedestrian access to the area via existing crossing points, and create new ones.
• Where possible, historic routes between the river and other areas of the City will be reinstated through the redevelopment and refurbishment of buildings. 
• Boost public access to historic interiors.
• Boost open public space, including publicly accessible roof terraces & open spaces.
• Develop the riverside walk and routes to and along Lower Thames Street.

London-specific competition info 

The Students Reinventing Cities competition in London will run on a slightly different timeline than in other cities. See the key dates below:

• Thursday 21st December 2023 | Deadline to register your team
• Thursday 15 February 2024 | Deadline to submit your project
• Mid-March 2024 | Announcement of winners & celebration event

The competition is open to local, national and international students. As such, there will be two winners. This may be the same team in case the winning team is London-based. 

• A Design Future London Winner - based in London only

• Students Reinventing Cities Winner - national or international

Winners based in London will have the opportunity to attend an awards event at City Hall in London, where the Mayor (or deputy Mayor) will present the prizes.

I'm interested! What next?

• Take a look at the Site Form and access the Dataroom to learn more about the site. Both are available under the 'Documentation' tab on this page. 

• Form your team. Feel free to fill out the Team Up Form to connect with new teammates and bring more diversity & expertise to your team. 

• Register your team by clicking the button at the top of the page. Make sure to do so before the deadline!