Southwark Council has granted planning permission to develop new homes, retail and green space as part of the Canada Water Masterplan. This will enable the creation of two zones of the development, which will provide new affordable homes, helping to meet local housing need, alongside exceptional new public spaces, play areas, shops and cafés.

Zone G, located off Redriff Road and across a portion of the Surrey Quays Leisure Park, is designed by leading architects Maccreanor Lavington and will deliver a brand-new Tesco Extra supermarket for the community, including a large new Tesco café and below-ground public town centre car park. There will be five residential buildings situated above this, with some smaller flexible retail space at ground level. In total Zone G will provide 384 new homes with a 42% affordable provision (by habitable room). The proposals also include a large new residents’ podium garden and play space, which will create a green, safe, and welcoming area for people of all age groups to relax in.

The new park will be located across a portion of Surrey Quays Leisure Park and part of the car park of the former Printworks building. Award-winning landscape architects Townshend designed the park which also includes a café pavilion and an adventure play space. The pavilion building was designed by Peckham-based design studio Feix & Merlin, and the play space has been conceived by internationally renowned Dutch studio Carve.

The park has been developed in close cooperation with the local community, taking inspiration from Canada Water’s industrial past and drawing upon its layers of history to give social meaning to a new public space. Such features include the celebration of the former Quebec dock edge running through the park, references to the old dock phrases being engraved into benches and street furniture, as well as the intention of reusing the trusses from the Printworks building to create the structures of the play area. The park will be an inclusive and accessible space for all, regardless of age, gender or ability. The vision is to create a place for people to gather and connect with nature. It also includes a new pavilion building with a café, public toilets, and a new adventure play area. These facilities are intended to provide local people with opportunities to socialise and to be places that will help bind the local community together.

In line with British Land’s commitment to ensure its development contributes to a thriving local economy and community, the team remains in regular discussions with cinema operators to establish the ability to deliver an appropriate facility within the Masterplan.

Phil Tait, Director of Development for Canada Water at British Land said: “The vision for Canada Water is to deliver a new town centre, connected with the local community; a place where everyone living, working, and studying in the local area truly belongs and can access the opportunities that it will bring, sharing in its success. Zone G and the park will bring new green space for all to enjoy, along with homes, shops, cafés and public amenities that will all add to what Canada Water has to offer.”

“Last year, we held a public consultation on proposals for Zone G alongside meetings with direct neighbours, ensuring local people had the opportunity to speak to members of the team and ask any questions. For the park, we also undertook over six months’ worth of engagement with local groups and organisations in order to shape the vision and we are grateful to everyone locally who viewed and commented on the plans prior to their approval.”