Approval given for London Canada Water scheme

British Land has been given the go-ahead for its multi-million-pound Canada Water scheme in south London.

The overall Canada Water Masterplan is a 53-acre, mixed-use scheme that will deliver: approximately 185,000m² of workspace to accommodate around 20,000 jobs; around 90,000m² of retail, leisure, entertainment, education and community space; and 3,000 new homes, of which 35% will be affordable.

With well-being embedded into the masterplan, and buildings to support low carbon living, the project will also create 12 acres of new open space, including a 3.5-acre park, a new town square, the first new high street in London for 100 years and 16 new streets.

Chris Grigg, Chief Executive of British Land, said: “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 well-being.

Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “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.”

British Land expects the whole masterplan to take around 15 years to deliver.