Canada Water: £4billion masterplan for new town centre in Docklands neighbourhood gets go-ahead

A £4 billion masterplan for a new town centre at Canada Water was given the green light last night.

Southwark’s planning committee approved proposals for the 53-acre scheme in Rotherhithe that developers claim will deliver central London’s first new high street in a century.

The site around Docklands’ only body of freshwater includes the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Surrey Quays Leisure Park, the Printworks venue and the former Dock Offices courtyard.

The plans allow for around 3,000 new homes, of which 35 per cent will be affordable; two million square feet of workspace for up to 20,000 jobs; and around one million square feet of shopping, leisure, entertainment, education and community space.

It will also create 12 acres of open space, including a 3.5-acre park, town square and 16 new streets.

Southwark council leader Peter John, 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.”

Chris Grigg, chief executive of developers 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 wellbeing.”