The practice, formerly known as Jo Cowen Architects, was appointed to rework plans for Morden Wharf early last year, after former site owner LandsecU+I sold up to a joint venture between Galliard Homes and Singapore-based City Developments Limited. 

Now Cowen+Partners has applied to vary the hybrid application for the 7.6ha Greenwich Peninsula site designed by OMA and approved in September 2021 and has submitted a fresh reserved matters application for the first phase of development. 

If approved, the updated masterplan would see the creation of 10 buildings, including four towers between 23 and 35 storeys tall, as well as 6,966m2 of new public park. The updated plans reduce the height of the tallest OMA-designed tower by two storeys, with a pair of other towers given an extra floor each.

The reserved matters application covers Morden Gardens: five linear blocks between eight and 11 storeys, which step down in height from the river. The blocks will have a ‘refined brick palette’ with colourful balconies. 

Two medium-sized blocks, named the Riverside Buildings, will stand at 17 and 20 storeys, featuring a projected gridded façade and a brick and painted metal palette which are ‘treated inversely from one another’. 

The four Parkside Towers will meanwhile have green and white horizontally banded façades, with balconies used to mitigate wind forces. Each tower will also have an external terrace at top levels, joining to communal amenity space. 

The homes will be 89 per cent dual-aspect, with 10 per cent designed for wheelchair use. Cowen+Partners said the scheme had been designed for 35 per cent affordable housing, but added that final proportion may change after viability negotiations. 

Chris Wilkinson, managing director of Cowen+ Partners, said: ‘Morden Wharf embodies our commitment to thoughtful urban design and responsible placemaking. 

‘Our approach focused on creating a dynamic environment with diverse public and private spaces, improved green areas and a generous linear Riverfront Park. 

‘The designs prioritise significantly enhanced residential qualities, optimised spatial layouts and, crucially, integrate the latest fire safety standards. We are incredibly proud of our instrumental role in delivering this transformative urban design project.’ 

Cowen+Partners’ design for Morden Wharf (left) compared with OMA’s earlier design for the same site