Silvertree project gets electricity and heating from solar source

An £80m ’eco’ tower block at the Royal Docks has been granted planning permission, with a view to starting construction this summer.

The 24-storey Silvertree development will include 161 one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as retail, office and commercial units, and a café located on the ground floor.

Completion is expected in 2012.

The building will be wrapped with curved aluminum bands on two sides that will provide solar shading and electrical power from embedded photovoltaic panels and solar water heating.

Richard Hywel Evans of Studio RHE, the architect behind Silvertree, said, “Silvertree’s solar PV panels, use of ground source and biomass to generate heat combined with high levels of thermal insulation mean not only will it feel comfortable to live in but it will also cost residents very little to run. It takes contemporary apartment living in London to new heights.”