Canada Water, situated between the Southbank and Canary Wharf, could rise to be one of the most sought after office sub-markets in Europe with British Land and Australian Super’s scheme there set to become London’s biggest and brightest ‘urban campus’.

Urban campuses are not a new concept for London. Chiswick Park was arguably the first example of developers placing people at the heart of a mixed-use development. Then the regeneration of King’s Cross placed the concept on a global stage, delivering what people want:  convenient, amenity rich, diverse community hubs.

The buzzwords of property development today, whether from occupiers or developers, include phrases such as sustainable, work-life-balance, war for talent, social equity, scale of opportunity, buzzing retail, cultural scene, authentic urban environment, and green communal spaces. Could Canada Water be the first major redevelopment to address all of these?

The 53 acre site will deliver 2.5 million sq ft of workspaces, 3,000 new homes, one million sq ft of retail and leisure, and 12 acres of public realm, surrounded by 130 acres of parks, woodland and water.

In seeking sustainable longevity, Canada Water will create employment and training opportunities alongside affordable workspace to support local businesses. It will boast the largest collection of net-zero buildings in London that, along with relying on earth-friendly concrete, being fully electric, and heat-sharing between offices and homes to name a few innovations, will celebrate the area’s historic association with the timber trade through design. 

A 10-year and multi-phase delivery programme allows the project to innovate and adapt, with best practice and lessons learned over time being applied to future phases. Ultimately, the ambition is to provide both future occupiers and residents and the existing local community with a scheme that naturally stitches into the fabric of the area and puts people first in all decisions.

The transport links to Canada Water are key to these successes. Its station is well served by the east-west running Jubilee line and north-south running London Overground. The demographics and skill sets of the users of these two lines, who have been attracted to south and east London predominantly due to house prices, are the future workforce for London. In the war for talent, Canada Water will provide for businesses who want to offer the very best offices, with an amenity rich, integrated community and easy commute, from some of London’s most popular addresses and the local established community.

A diversity of approach to office design and provision will deliver options for a multitude of occupier types and sizes, from tech and life sciences to creative industries, professional services, educational institutions, and corporate occupiers. Even the smallest of businesses with just one person with one idea can hope to find a home on the campus, and to be able to grow and move within it.

Canada Water’s stated aim of continually innovating and improving throughout the project, within and alongside an established community whose heritage is both reflected and embedded in the plans, is an exciting prospect for London. Its connectivity to the city’s future workforce places it in a strong position to grow into a new district that is truly mixed use - but perhaps most exciting of all is the 130 acres of green and blue open spaces surrounding the campus. With this amenity, Canada Water will be outstanding on a global scale, offering uninterrupted 5km runs through parks and woodland or sailing and paddleboarding in your lunchbreak. If occupiers want wellness we’re not sure it gets any better than this for inner city occupiers.

Further information

Contact Josh Lamb or Sophie Rosier

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