A riverside festival, a pleasure garden and a floating swimming pool are amongst the winning ideas to regenerate derelict development sites in Property Week’s Meanwhile London competition.

Four schemes have been chosen to transform sites in London’s Royal Docks and Canning Town.

The winners were revealed by mayor of London, Boris Johnson at MIPIM in Cannes this afternoon.

The four winning proposals are:

  •    Caravanserai by EXYST, Space Makers Agency, Ash Sakula and others at Canning Town.

The proposal aims to create an“adaptable open courtyard surrounded by busy shops and production spaces, collaboratively produced by architects, thinkers, makers, community groups and local residents”.

  •   21st Century Pleasure Gardens by the creators of Shangri-La at Glastonbury - Strong and Co. at Pontoon Dock.

A “waterside festival site” to feature year-round attractions and summer-time spectaculars. 

  •    Industri[US] by Fluid, with Colliers International, Dare and others at the Royals Business Park.

The concept aims to rework and revalue found materials and waste products, bringing together artists, entrepreneurs, social businesses, local people and scientists. Newham Council and the London Development Agency will also work on the project so it can be extended to use other sites in the borough. 

  •    Royal Docks Baths by Studio Egret West at Pontoon Dock.

This will be a “floating swimming pool in Pontoon Dock made from seven re-used Thames Lighters to form a pontoon, floating structure, cafe, restaurant and spa”.

Property Week, in conjunction with Boris Johnson and mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales launched Meanwhile London in November to get ideas for temporary uses on three prominent development sites that have stalled because of the recession that are owned by the London Development Agency and Newham Council. The competition received 42 entries.

Boris Johnson said: ”These winning ideas will bring the sites to life and help the Royal Docks and Canning Town become a thriving new economic hub for the capital and a top class destination to live and work.

With the eyes of the world on London in the run up to 2012, the ingenuity of these schemes will show the world just what the Royal Docks have to offer to businesses, entrepreneurs and visitors.”

The mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales said: “Meanwhile London is adding another dimension to the transformation of Newham. London is moving east and there is huge potential here for investment, growth and greater prosperity. The Royals are where London’s future essential economic growth can truly thrive. The winners’ temporary uses will demonstrate to the world the opportunities available in Newham for developers and investors.”

Each of the schemes will undergo further technical evaluation before any formal lease agreements are entered into with the winners, who have all said they are willing to collaborate with other competition entrants.

The Meanwhile London judges included: Giles Barrie, editor of Property Week; Clive Dutton, executive director regeneration, planning and property, London Borough of Newham; Peter Bishop, design director and deputy chief executive of the London Development Agency; Peter Murray, chairman of New London Architecture; Mark Brearley, head of Design for London; Josep Piqué, Barcelona regeneration adviser and chief executive of 22@ Barcelona and Sarah Ichioka, director of the Architecture Foundation.