London’s biggest floating lido project moves closer – here’s what 400 residents said

Plans to transform a 12-hectare stretch of water in east London into the capital’s largest floating destination have taken a significant step forward, with Royal Docks Waterways publishing the findings from its first major public engagement round — and confirming that procurement for the project’s first two components is now actively underway.

Nearly 400 local residents took part in ten public sessions held in February and March 2026, generating 757 individual comments that will directly shape how the Royal Victoria Dock West vision is developed. The sessions included drop-in events held aboard the SB Will — a historic Thames sailing barge moored in the dock — as well as community hall events across Newham.

The findings have now been published in a formal Early-Stage Engagement Report, and the project is moving into its next phase.

What Is the Royal Victoria Dock West Vision?

Royal Victoria Dock West is a 12-hectare expanse of enclosed water on the southern edge of the Royal Docks in Newham — one of the largest bodies of inland water in London. The docks closed to commercial shipping in 1981, and while the surrounding area has undergone significant regeneration over the past two decades, the water itself has remained largely underused as a public asset.

Royal Docks Waterways has identified three Priority Projects that will guide the transformation — Floating Wellness, Floating Residential and a Floating Park — each designed to bring different types of activity, community benefit and long-term use to the water.

The Floating Wellness element proposes a year-round wellbeing destination combining a floating lido, sauna and spa experiences, alongside expanded support for open-water swimming and an aspiration for increased seasonal free access to the water.

The Floating Park would comprise landscaped floating green space, art installations and cultural programming, helping to address Newham’s shortage of accessible public open space while contributing to climate-resilience objectives.

The Floating Residential element would create a new waterside community through residential moorings and floating homes, bringing year-round life and activity to the area.

The overall regeneration of the Royal Docks is backed by a £5 billion investment led by the Mayor of London in partnership with the Mayor of Newham, with initial phases targeting completion before 2030.

What Did Residents Say?

The Floating Wellness component drew the most interest from participants. Comments focused on open-water swimming, a floating lido, sauna and spa facilities, and the continuation and expansion of well-loved existing activities including wakeboarding and the Oiler Bar.

The Royal Docks already host an established programme of controlled open-water swimming sessions run by NOWCA / Love Open Water, making the dock one of the most active open-water swimming locations in London. Residents were clear they want this activity protected and expanded rather than displaced by new development.

Royal Docks Waterways is working with Wake Up Docklands — the wakeboarding operator — to explore alternative locations further to the east within Royal Victoria Dock, where these activities may be better accommodated as the Wellness and Residential projects progress. The Oiler Bar, run by the same operator, would likely relocate alongside the wakeboarding operation. Both businesses will receive clear information and sufficient time to plan ahead.

Beyond Floating Wellness, residents expressed strong views about public access, affordability and the importance of the project genuinely serving the existing Newham community rather than becoming an exclusive destination for visitors or wealthier new residents.

What Happens Next: Procurement and Timeline

The aspiration that everyone is working towards is that people can benefit from the Royal Victoria Dock West Vision before 2030. Achieving this goal depends on moving quickly through the procurement and design phases in 2026 and 2027.

For Floating Wellness: shortlists have been drawn up and detailed proposals are being invited from a small number of bidders. The aim is to appoint a preferred development partner in September 2026 and be in contract by the end of the year. The appointed partner will then take responsibility for design development, further public engagement, planning applications and delivery. Construction and opening is targeted for 2028–2029.

For Floating Residential: a consultant team will be appointed in July 2026 to begin a nine-month feasibility study. The Vision identifies the southern edge of Royal Victoria Dock West as a suitable location, while recognising that questions around scale, typology and delivery approach will need to be tested through subsequent feasibility work.

The Floating Park will be developed once the Wellness and Residential proposals have greater clarity, as the third component of the project.

Community Commitments: How Residents Stay Involved

Royal Docks Waterways has set out a series of formal commitments to keep local people involved as the project develops — going beyond a single consultation round:

A Local Steering Group made up of representative bodies will take part in design reviews through the feasibility and design phases.

A Community Review Panel is being explored — a paid role for residents to review proposals across the Royal Victoria area as they come forward. The paid element is significant: it acknowledges that meaningful community participation requires compensating people for their time, particularly in a borough where residents are more likely to be in lower-income households.

A Community Chest has been committed to — ringfencing a proportion of ongoing revenue for local investment in services, youth provision and future capital projects. This gives the community a share in the financial returns of the project rather than simply a voice in its design.

The Broader Policy Context

Royal Victoria Dock West is well-placed to be among the first waterscapes in London to benefit from the Mayor of London’s forthcoming Clean and Healthy Waterways strategy — a ten-year plan to improve water quality, expand public access and restore London’s waterways as essential environmental assets.

With the Mayor having recently signed the Swimmable Cities Charter, the dock is poised to be among the first waterscapes in London to embody these evolving objectives. The charter commits cities to making their urban waterways safe, accessible and swimmable for residents — a goal that aligns directly with what Newham residents said they most want from the Royal Victoria Dock West project.

The project also connects to a wider London debate about how the city funds and governs major regeneration. For context on how London balances investment in major visitor and tourism infrastructure against its existing communities, our analysis of the proposed London tourist tax explores a related question — how the capital funds public amenities and who ultimately pays for them.

Getting to Royal Victoria Dock

The Royal Victoria Dock is well connected by public transport and increasingly well served as a destination in its own right:

• DLR: Royal Victoria station — directly adjacent to the dock
• Elizabeth line: Custom House station — a short walk from the dock’s eastern end
• Bus: Multiple routes serve the Royal Docks area

ExCeL London, London City Airport and the University of East London are all within walking distance of the site, making Royal Victoria Dock West one of the most strategically located pieces of underdeveloped water in the capital.

Key Facts: Royal Victoria Dock West at a Glance

All information in this article is based on the Royal Docks Waterways Early-Stage Engagement Report, the official Royal Victoria Dock West Vision document, and reporting from the Royal Docks, Newham Recorder and Royal Docks Waterways website, May 2026. For updates visit rvdwactivated.com.