British Land submits planning application for landmark Canada Water development

14 May 2018

British Land has entered into a Master Development Agreement with Southwark Council and submitted an outline planning application for the Canada Water Masterplan, one of London’s most significant development projects which will create a new urban centre for London.

The submission of a planning application follows four years of close collaboration between the council and British Land, and extensive consultation with the local community.

Alongside the overall Masterplan the planning submission also includes a detailed planning application for the project’s first three buildings, which include workspace, homes (of which 35 per cent will be affordable) and a new leisure centre.

These three buildings are part of a major first phase of the development covering a total of 1.8 million sq ft of mixed use space, comprising one million sq ft of workspace, 250,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space and 650 homes.  Subject to planning approvals, construction of the first buildings will begin in spring 2019. The wider Masterplan is expected to deliver up to 3,000 new homes, two million sq ft of workspace and one million sq ft of retail, leisure, entertainment and community space including proposed health and social infrastructure, and educational uses for all ages.

Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “It is fantastic to see this project moving forward. British Land have done great work to consult and engage with local people and the resulting Masterplan will deliver what local people want to see, including a guaranteed 35% affordable housing split 70% social rent and 30% shared ownership in the first phase, new retail spaces and job opportunities, education and health facilities and a brand new leisure centre. In addition British Land, in conjunction with the council, has committed to a Social Regeneration Charter which will ensure that the lives of existing local residents will be improved by the project which we believe to be a first for a project such as this.

“People will be able to see the proposals and make further comments through the planning procedure, so there is still time to get involved and help create the future of Canada Water.”

The planning application must now be validated and will be published on the council’s website in the next 2-3 weeks. The statutory consultation on the application by the council will start after this has been completed.

Page last updated: 14 May 2018