The housing developer plans to build a mixed-used residential-led scheme on the site of South Quay Plaza, which marked some of the first construction at Canary Wharf in the Thatcher era.

Berkeley Homes has submitted a scoping report to planners at Tower Hamlets pushing the boundary with plans for an 80-storey main tower, with two other 35-floor and six floor buildings.

The project could have up to 1,150 luxury flats, plus 40,000 sq ft of retail space and 20,000 sq ft of offices.

The 250m main tower would be the tallest residential building in the UK, and would rise above One Canada Square, Canary Wharf’s highest building at 245m.

Berkeley’s tower will be even be taller than Chalegrove Properties’ plans to redevelop the City Pride site in Docklands into a 75-storey, 239m residential tower.

Demolition and construction of the tower could get underway before the end of 2014 with the lower rise buildings starting in 2017.

Berkeley Homes, which acquired the site in April, is expected to submit a planning application to Tower Hamlets Council later this year.

Harry Lewis of Berkeley Homes said: “At the first exhibition, residents were particularly keen to see improvements made to the public realm and pedestrian permeability.

“As a result we will be providing over 60%of the site area as public realm, reactivating the waterfront and providing fantastic spaces for the local community to enjoy.”