Adelaide Wharf

First Base was founded by Lend Lease and Stanhope in 2002, as a niche provider of high quality inner city mixed tenure homes. In 2003 Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) were commissioned by First Base to carry out a study for providing high density key worker housing of 150-250, units using efficient, rationalised design and modern methods of construction. The study formed part of a bid in September 2004 by First Base for English Partnerships London Wide Initiative, a government-backed scheme to provide shared equity key worker housing on 16 brownfield sites.

In November 2004, the Adelaide Wharf site was allocated to First Base, who appointed AHMM to provide detailed designs. The site came with an existing consent for 131 flats with 98 underground parking spaces. AHMM redesigned from scratch based on the previous building studies, to create the higher-density built form of 147 flats around a shared courtyard, with 33 parking spaces above and below ground and 180 secure bicycle spaces. The new planning application was submitted in September 2005 and full approval granted December 2005. Work began on site in April 2006, completed in October 2007 and first residents moved in the following month.