Decisions are broadly taken with finding something that hits the sweet spot of all three: a new, high-quality building in a vibrant location with the right levels of connectivity.
When occupiers look ahead to their next office move, there are generally three key things that they take into consideration: location, quality and convenience.
Location is more than geography
What that looks like for every occupier varies; some have a need to be in a specific area to be near to clients or suppliers. But for those who are location-agnostic, it’s about finding a building near to where things happen. Staff want to be close to transport hubs, shops and restaurants, so they can meet contacts for lunch, go for a drink after work or do some shopping at lunchtime.
British Land and AustralianSuper’s Canada Water development, nestled between the Southbank to the west and Canary Wharf over the river to the east, is a thriving new location that is on track to be one of the next major London destinations.
Canada Water’s history is long and varied, having been an industrial dock in the past, but it’s now home to a growing ecosystem of offices, lab space, event space, world-class retail and leisure outlets, with the renowned Printworks venue returning in the next few years. It sits at the junction of the Jubilee line and Windrush Overground line and is just one stop from the Elizabeth line at Canary Wharf. It’s less than 15 minutes to the West End and the City, and about 20 minutes from London City Airport, making it ideal for domestic and international access.
Leisure and retail are essential, not simply nice-to-haves
What also sets Canada Water apart from other recent developments is Corner Corner, a dockside culture, events and food hall that opened earlier this year. It already has a stellar line-up of performances scheduled, and is home to London’s biggest urban indoor vertical farm, which provides fresh produce to the food hall, the all-day café, and restaurants across London.
In addition, the scheme has already delivered 13,000 sq ft of retail and 265 new homes. There’s a strong focus on the existing community, with soon-to-open café Village Tree, run by the team behind The Pear Tree in nearby Greenland Place, and Sushi Revolution. Recently, Vagabond Wines agreed terms to bring the UK’s largest urban winery to Canada Water. It’s a phrase that’s perhaps overused in London, but there genuinely is something for everyone at Canada Water.
Offices are more than a place to work
Take Dock Shed as an example of the type of building available now to occupiers. As well as the comprehensive amenity at Canada Water, it also benefits from immediate proximity to a brand-new leisure centre, complete with state-of-the-art gym, sports courts, and not one, but two swimming pools. It is a 180,000 sq ft warehouse style building offering 30,000+ sq ft floorplates and four-metre floor-to-ceiling windows, just one of the several office buildings that will make up the completed 53-acre scheme.
Looking back at the three characteristics of the right office, Canada Water looks positive. Dock Shed, and the subsequent workspaces due to complete in the coming years, offers high-quality space. The wider development includes the retail and leisure outlets that give a place energy, all while being a short tube journey from the excitement that the rest of London has to offer. One of the city’s next major destinations is already here and only going to get better.
Further information
Contact Josh Lamb or David Bannister
Canada Water’s Transformation: A year from the first PC, and where are we?
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