Opportunity
Royal Docks Waterways is inviting expressions of interest from experienced developer-operators to create a landmark Floating Wellness destination in the historic Royal Victoria Dock.
A prime commercial area is now available to host a lido-style heated swimming facility alongside free, inclusive wellness, leisure and community uses, with improved public access to the dock at an adjacent location. Identified as one of three Priority Projects within the ‘Royal Victoria Dock West Vision’, this opportunity calls for a bold, distinctive offer that is rooted in place and responsive to the growing local community as well as visitors to the area.
The ambition is to set a new benchmark for community-led and accessible wellness in London, aligned with the Mayor of London’s emerging Clean & Healthy Waterways policy and its commitment to reconnecting Londoners with the city’s waterways over the next decade.
The concept should be broad in its offering to ensure everyone has access to this treasured and historic dock.
At its heart: a lido-style heated swimming facility, supported by complementary wellness and leisure uses, designed to make getting into the water part of everyday life.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape London’s next major waterside destination, to be part of London’s centre shifting east, next to City Hall and at the forefront of the Royal Docks’ long-term regeneration.
Background to the project
Royal Docks Waterways completed the Vision for Royal Victoria Dock West in 2025, building on extensive research, feasibility work and public engagement undertaken by the Royal Docks Team and its consultants since 2019. The Royal Docks Team are a partnership between the Mayor of London (the GLA is the freeholder of the water) and the Mayor of Newham, responsible for steering the regeneration of the Royal Docks.
The Vision sets out a long-term framework for transforming Royal Victoria Dock West into a major new public waterside destination for London. It identifies Floating Wellness on the western edge of the dock as a Priority Project, to be delivered in partnership with a specialist developer-operator.
The Vision document, including the proposed location, design principles and delivery approach for Floating Wellness, is available to download. Further technical detail for organisations looking to collaborate on the next stage is provided within the Expression of Interest pack.
FAQs
We will keep this section updated as new information comes available and we will show clearly what information has been added after the website was launched on 23 February 2026.
Download the Expression of Interest (EOI) document by filling out the form on this page. This contains more technical information and sets out what interested bidders need to submit. There is no obligation to submit an EOI after downloading the document. Once the EOI is complete, please email to rvdw@royaldockswaterways.com with any other relevant documents.
Royal Docks Waterways will decide which Expressions of Interest are to be progressed, in collaboration with the Royal Docks Team and with the support of appointed advisors. A shortlist of bidders will then be invited to submit more detailed proposals, which will then be reviewed and decided on by the same group, in consultation with some local anchor institutions. The Expression of Interest document is transparent about what information is required and the weighting of different topics. All applications and proposals will be treated in the strictest of confidence, subject to the obligations imposed on Royal Docks Waterways by law.
Please email rvdw@royaldockswaterways.com to set up an online meeting.
Expressions of Interest will need to demonstrate that proposals (including the necessary supporting infrastructure) are fully self-funded. There are no commitments for any financial subsidy. It will also be the applicant’s responsibility to secure all the necessary permissions.
The areas available for the Royal Victoria Dock West Vision are within the lease area of Royal Docks Waterways, with the Greater London Authority as freeholder. Term of lease for discussion with interested parties.
The timeline is subject to change, because third parties still need to be procured or contracted with, however the aspiration that everyone is working towards is that people can benefit from the Royal Victoria Dock West Vision before 2030. Achieving this goal would rely on choosing the developer-operator for Floating Wellness in 2026 and progressing to design development, engagement and Planning in 2027 and then construction and openings 2028-2029. The Priority Projects will come forward in a staged way, rather than one big bang and will be subject to decisions by at least Royal Docks Waterways, the Royal Docks Team / GLA and London Borough of Newham.
Get in touch
We’re keen to hear from you, whether it is about pursuing an opportunity, or finding out more as a local stakeholder or resident.
Leave your name, email and organisation (if relevant) and we’ll keep you posted with updates.
