Much has been made of the 53 acre-site of the Canada Water masterplan, which among other headline hitting developments will see the first new high street in London in 100 years.
But beside British Land’s plan is a five acre site on the dockside of Canada Water spanning Surrey Quays Road over to what is currently Hawkers House.
Ideas for the site that includes the former Decathlon store is being led by Art-Invest Real Estate and they are asking local residents to say what they want to see developed there.
Early plans are for commercial and office space, with the developer asking what retail, community and improved outdoor space people would like to see at street level.
The idea is to make Canada Water a new town centre. British Land’s £4 billion master plan is the largest in Southwark’s history. It will see the creation of around 3,000 new homes, of which 35 per cent are affordable, up to 20,000 new jobs and a new leisure centre. Fifteen years in the making, twelve acres of the colossal masterplan will be given over to new open space, including a 3.5-acre park and new town square, plus the first high street in London for 100 years alongside sixteen new streets. The masterplan will encompass Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Surrey Quays Leisure Park, the Printworks and the former Dock Offices courtyard.
The five acre site that Art-Invest Real Estate is developing is tiny in comparison. But from early discussions with residents from its first consultation held last month, carried out online, there is a push for more retail space, and places to eat and drink on the waterfront with access to the proposed park in British Land’s master plan.
Art-Invest Real Estate said that 70 per cent of the local people they had engaged with spent their time visiting parks, walking and exercising in Canada Water and 79 per cent wanted more outdoor space for nature, and new places to eat and drink.
This feedback is now being used to develop Art-Invest Real Estate’s next virtual exhibition, which because of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions will be largely held online again.
Art-Invest Real Estate say up to 10,000 jobs from constructing the site to opening up office and retail space will be created.
Last week we reported on how Southwark Council has agreed to buy a site in the Canada Water Masterplan from British Land for 79 new ‘affordable’ homes near Russia Dock Woodland. It was the first milestone since the £4bn masterplan was approved.
A legal challenge to overthrow planning permission for the huge scheme was thrown out of court by a judge last November. The wholesale regeneration was approved in June 2020, and now the first stage of work is imminent.
Ali Abbas, who heads up Art-Invest Real Estate in the UK, said of the smaller site they are developing: “We are grateful for the feedback we received from the local community regarding their key priorities for the local area in January. We are now excited to bring forward these early ideas for the site that reflect the input we have received. My team remains committed to working with the local community to ensure that we deliver a vibrant focal point for Canada Water’s emerging town centre.”
Further public exhibitions and webinars will follow in the coming months, as plans for the site evolve ahead of a planning application submission in the summer. The development is expected to take up to five years.
The Canada Water Dockside consultation website and virtual exhibition is now live. To find out more and have your say, please visit the Canada Water Dockside website at www.canadawaterdockside.co.uk/haveyoursay before Sunday 7 March 2021. Hard copies of all the consultation materials are available on request.
To get in touch with the project team or to sign up to the project mailing list, send an email to contact@canadawaterdockside.co.uk or via phone at 020 3900 3676.