Shoreditch takes centre stage: Shakespeare's Curtain theatre set for £750m transformation as 400 new homes launch around site

A new homes development of 412 flats and penthouses launches today as part of the £750 million transformation of a historic site in Shoreditch.

Located just off trendy Curtain Road, the development - aptly named The Stage - is designed around a new public square that will showcase the sunken remains of William Shakespeare's Tudor Curtain theatre, at which his plays were performed and where Shakespeare himself was counted among the cast.

Taking inspiration from the history of the site, designers of the 8,000sq ft marketing suite and show apartment have opted for a "Best of British" style, combining historic Victorian brick arches with bespoke British furnishings.

David Galman, sales director of Galliard Homes, says: "The regeneration of this Shakespearean site will elevate the status of Shoreditch to that of the uber-cool Meatpacking district in downtown New York City."

The Stage development comes after news that, after decades of neglect, London's arches and railway viaducts are being restored and their historical heritage woven into new housing schemes and inner-city spaces.

Construction is due to begin at The Stage next month, with completion due in early 2019.