ABOUT THE ISLAND
Sugar House Island is a new neighbourhood of homes, offices, commercial spaces, places to learn, live and have fun. Inspired by its rich heritage and unique waterside location, our award winning vision will bring together a growing community of 6,000 people to this new part of east London.
THE ISLAND IN NUMBERS
Over the next five years the Sugar House Island community will flourish, we’re committed to delivering:
1,000 YEARS OF HISTORY
From architectural design down to the naming of streets and buildings, Sugar House Island has drawn inspiration from the area’s heritage every step of the way.
Throughout history, the watercourses surrounding the island have shaped the industries that operated here. The tidal mills that sit at the south of the Island are mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086, making the River Lea’s mills amongst the earliest tidal mills ever recorded in England. The centre of a large circular economy, the mills generated work for mill operators, carpenters and coopers.
INK - From the 1600’s the river supported the textile printing and dye works and, Dane’s Yard, at the north of the island, led printing ink and paint manufacturing in the 19th century. The Dane Group was a world-leading producer of Day-Glo paints.
SUGAR - The Island is named after a 19th century five-storey brick warehouse which still stands on site. The original sugar refinery once stood at the top of Sugar House Lane where it meets the High Street.
GIN - J&W Nicholson & Co was founded in 1736, it owned the mill building and was one of the earliest and most famous London distillers.
CLOUDS - Luke Howard (1772 - 1864), an amateur meteorologist, developed the naming system for clouds (such as ‘cumulus’ and ‘nimbus’), and lived next to City Mill lock on the Bow Back River to the north of the Island.
THE ISLAND IN NUMBERS
Over the next five years the Sugar House Island community will flourish, we’re committed to delivering:
- 624000 sq ft office space
- 1,200 new homes, with 40% 3-bed or more
- 1 new two-form entry primary school
- 3 acres of open space including courtyards, terraces and a new riverside park
- Independent restaurants, bars, cafes and shops
- A 350 bed hotel
- 3 new bridges connecting the island into its surrounding communities
1,000 YEARS OF HISTORY
From architectural design down to the naming of streets and buildings, Sugar House Island has drawn inspiration from the area’s heritage every step of the way.
Throughout history, the watercourses surrounding the island have shaped the industries that operated here. The tidal mills that sit at the south of the Island are mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086, making the River Lea’s mills amongst the earliest tidal mills ever recorded in England. The centre of a large circular economy, the mills generated work for mill operators, carpenters and coopers.
INK - From the 1600’s the river supported the textile printing and dye works and, Dane’s Yard, at the north of the island, led printing ink and paint manufacturing in the 19th century. The Dane Group was a world-leading producer of Day-Glo paints.
SUGAR - The Island is named after a 19th century five-storey brick warehouse which still stands on site. The original sugar refinery once stood at the top of Sugar House Lane where it meets the High Street.
GIN - J&W Nicholson & Co was founded in 1736, it owned the mill building and was one of the earliest and most famous London distillers.
CLOUDS - Luke Howard (1772 - 1864), an amateur meteorologist, developed the naming system for clouds (such as ‘cumulus’ and ‘nimbus’), and lived next to City Mill lock on the Bow Back River to the north of the Island.