An artist's impression of the Sugar House Lane Development

Plans for a community development with nearly 1,200 homes, hotel, shops, restaurants, cafes, artists workshops and a riverside park near Bromley-by-Bow have been given the green light.

The development at Sugar House Lane, part of the Strand East neighbourhood, were approved by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation at the Old Town Hall in Stratford last Thursday.

The site is described as the single most important strategic regeneration initiative for the capital within The London Plan, the overall strategic plan for the capital.

The main objectors to the plans, put forward by LandProp Holdings BV, at last week’s hearing were residents of boats moored along the River Lea.

Speaking on behalf of the Three Mills Moorings Association, Miles Hubbard, objected to a garden used by the boating community being transferred to the new residents.

He said: “We were invited to live here by Newham Council and we think we have built a successful, diverse and cohesive community.”

Project development manager Thomas Hatting said there were space on the other side of the moorings which boat residents would be able to use for barbecues, although they would not be able to grow vegetable there. He promised they would try to work with the boat community to find a better resolution.

The committee complemented the scheme on its high quality design saying they didn’t see projects of such a high standard often enough.