Essel has submitted proposals to the Greater London Authority to purchase the 62 acre site from current developers The Silvertown Partnership – a consortium of Chelsfield Properties, First Base and Macquarie Capital.
Essel has plans for a major world class visitor attraction, hotel and leisure complex to celebrate India’s culture and history.
The firm will work in partnership with HPW Architects who will lead on design and Mace.
The multi-billion pound cultural centre would sit on 14 acres at the heart of the Silvertown project under the proposal.
Designers HPW architects sid the centre will provide a ‘cultural landmark’ for London which will ‘defy traditional tall build typologies’ and transform the City skyline.
Spanning 2.5 million square feet, the centre would include museums and a theatre, retail outlets, restaurants, a botanical garden and a luxury hotel.
Essel Group spokesperson Parul Goel said: “London remains the beating heart of Europe, and the Essel Group is committed to making a huge investment into London to complete the transformation of this part of the city, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly development that meets the requirements of the current planning permission and ensuring this project moves quickly.
“The Essel Group and our design team have been in detailed discussions with The Silvertown Partnership for many months, all of which has been hugely productive and our proposal has the full support and trust of The Silvertown Partnership.
“The cultural centre will be like no other in the world, and we aim to put this part of London back on the map.”
Visitors will start at the top of the centre and work their way through museums, art galleries and interactive experiences highlighting the origins of the Indus and other civilisations to the modern day.
The centre will also provide space for mediation, yoga and dance as well as a spa and wedding venue. A conference centre, exhibition facilities and a global news and TV production studio are also proposed.
If the plans are approved, the Essel Group’s proposed development of Silvertown could see the cultural centre open by 2023.
