Europe’s largest and most advanced life sciences facility coming to Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf Group and Kadans Science Partner have secured planning approval from Tower Hamlets Council for the development of a “state-of-the-art” commercial health and life sciences building at the North Quay site, adjacent to the Crossrail Station and new Elizabeth Line at Canary Wharf, London.

The 23-storey 823,000 sq ft tower aims to “set a new benchmark” in the development of life sciences laboratories and workspace, creating a first of its kind vertical campus, which will be Europe’s largest and most technologically advanced life sciences facility.

Enabling works on the 3.3 hectare site are already well underway and the building, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, is anticipated to complete in 2027 and will be a “world-leading” centre for health and life sciences.

A low-carbon strategy has been implemented across the development, which includes highly insulated and airtight building fabric, with an optimised façade, energy efficient MEP systems and the provision of renewable sources and highly efficient photovoltaic panels.

This “significant milestone” for the North Quay development has been secured as CWG and Kadans have accelerated the growth of the existing health and life sciences community across Canary Wharf.

This includes the recent completion of a wet lab innovation and flexible workspace centre at 20 Water Street, delivering 40,000 sq ft of fully fitted, flexible, wet-labs geared towards early-stage life science companies to collaborate and innovate.

In addition to the Innovation Centre at 20 Water Street, the building’s office accommodation is attracting considerable interest from life sciences companies, with CWG expected to announce new leases imminently.

Elsewhere across Canary Wharf, a host of life sciences and healthcare organisations are already well established, including government-owned genomic health pioneer, Genomics England, Barts Health NHS Trust, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Medical Defence Union, General Pharmaceutical Council and NHS Transformation.

Shobi Khan, CEO of Canary Wharf Group, commented: “This is a significant milestone in our development of a world-class life sciences hub at Canary Wharf.

“While the North Quay development is an integral focal point, we have been working in tandem to nurture and grow our current life sciences community and we have built real momentum this year through leasing success and working with our partners Kadans to develop bespoke and innovative new facilities.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily