British Land has entered into a Master Development Agreement with Southwark Council and submitted an outline planning application for the Canada Water Masterplan, one of London’s most significant development projects which will create a new urban centre for London. The submission of a planning application follows four years of close collaboration with Southwark Council and extensive consultation with the local community. Alongside the overall Masterplan, the planning submission also includes a detailed planning application for the project’s first three buildings, which include workspace, homes (of which 35% will be affordable) and a new leisure centre.
These three buildings are part of a major first phase of the development covering a total of 1.8 million ft² of mixed-use space, comprising one million ft² of workspace, 250,000 ft² of retail and leisure space and 650 homes. Subject to planning approvals, construction of the first buildings will begin in spring 2019.
The wider Masterplan is expected to deliver up to 3,000 new homes, two million ft² of workspace and one million ft² of retail, leisure, entertainment and community space including proposed health and social infrastructure, and educational uses for all ages.
Roger Madelin, Head of Canada Water Development, British Land, said:“Submission of our planning application for the Canada Water Masterplan marks an important milestone in the delivery of this project. Drawing on our experience of creating vibrant, mixed-use places across the capital, this major urban centre at Canada Water will provide an exciting place to live, work and visit, delivering high-quality design, active spaces and significant economic and social benefits for the local community. We have worked closely with Southwark Council and the local community of Canada Water to achieve this important first step and will continue to work with them to deliver a low carbon, energy efficient neighbourhood. We will put health and wellbeing at the heart of our plans to ensure the buildings and spaces we create encourage and support healthy lives.”
Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “It is fantastic to see this project moving forward. British Land has done great work to consult and engage with local people and the resulting Masterplan will deliver what local people want to see, including a guaranteed 35% affordable housing split 70% social rent and 30% shared ownership in the first phase, new retail spaces and job opportunities, education and health facilities and a brand new leisure centre. In addition British Land, in conjunction with the council, has committed to a Social Regeneration Charter which will ensure that the lives of existing local residents will be improved by the project which we believe to be a first for a project such as this. People will be able to see the proposals and make further comments through the planning procedure, so there is still time to get involved and help create the future of Canada Water.”
The 53-acre site comprises Surrey Quays Shopping and Leisure, the SE16 Printworks, the Dock Offices and the former Rotherhithe Police Station.
The Masterplan envisages a mix of uses and innovative public spaces designed for a range of ages, incomes and life stages. The buildings, set around water and green public spaces, will together create a vibrant destination where people can live, work and be entertained throughout the day and into the evening. This approach is already evident at Printworks, an exciting new 119,000 ft² events space with capacity for 5,000 people that British Land has created on the site of the former SE16 Printworks.
On completion, the Masterplan will be home to approximately 20,000 jobs with thousands of people working on site during construction, including apprenticeships and training. A decision on the planning application is expected by the end of the year.
