53-acre London masterplan set to accommodate 20,000 jobs gets go-ahead

Plans for a new town centre at Canada Water in London which is set to accommodate 20,000 jobs have been approved.

Southwark Council Planning Committee has resolved to grant planning permission for developer British Land’s masterplan, which will include the creation of two million sq ft of workspace as well as the first new high street in London for 100 years.

The 53-acre masterplan site covers Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Surrey Quays Leisure Park, the Printworks and the former Dock Offices courtyard, with plans to create one million sq ft of retail, leisure, entertainment, education and community space.

In addition, the development aims to deliver 12 acres of open space, including a 3.5-acre park, a new town square and 16 new streets, as well as around 3,000 new homes.

Cllr Peter John, leader of Southwark Council, commented: “We are delighted that this major step towards our vision for Canada Water has been approved.

“The Masterplan provides the blueprint for an exciting new town centre that will provide thousands of new homes, particularly hundreds of new social rent homes, new jobs and opportunities, new open spaces and a brand new leisure centre for Rotherhithe in the first phase of the work.

“We look forward to working with British Land over the next few years to bring forward the plans and making sure our local residents are the beneficiaries of the opportunities the regeneration will provide, as laid out in the Canada Water Social Regeneration Charter.”

The masterplan, which is expected to take around 15 years to deliver, follows five years of extensive consultation and engagement with the local community and a partnership with Southwark Council, who entered into a conditional Master Development Agreement with British Land last year.

Chris Grigg, chief executive of British Land, added: “We have an incredible opportunity at Canada Water to create a vibrant neighbourhood for people to live, work and enjoy.

“We’re hugely excited about delivering this exceptional, mixed-use and sustainable landmark development, which has been designed to support people’s wellbeing. We thank the council for all their hard-work and we look forward to continuing to work with them and the local community.”