Wood Wharf, Tower Hamlets, London – Canary Wharf Group

"In the past 12 months, two new residential buildings launched in Wood Wharf: 8 Harbord Square and 30 Harbord Square. Alongside these residential buildings, recently opened restaurants include Hawksmoor and Emilia’s Crafted Pasta, alongside a branch of Amazon Fresh. Mercato Metropolitano is set to open imminently within 10 George Street, a Build to Rent development within Wood Wharf."

Where is the project located?
Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB
 
Who is the developer/client of the project?
Canary Wharf Group
 

Describe the context of this project and the point it has reached in its development. When is the project expected to complete?

Canary Wharf Group (CWG) first started to develop its residential plans in 2015. Since then, through investment and careful masterplanning, the residential offer has grown significantly, with more than 1,000 people now living on the Estate. 

At the heart of this residential vision sits Wood Wharf – a new 23-acre neighbourhood within the wider Estate. Once complete, it will be home to up to 3,600 homes, 350,000 sq. ft. of shops and restaurants, 2 million sq. ft. of office space, a new NHS doctor’s surgery and two-form primary school. New green spaces include Harbour Quay Gardens and Harbord Square Park.

In the past 12 months, two new residential buildings launched in Wood Wharf: 8 Harbord Square (the latest collection of apartments for sale) and 30 Harbord Square (176 affordable homes).

Wood Wharf is now home to some of the most architecturally significant buildings in the UK, including One Park Drive, a 58-storey building designed by world-renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron.

Alongside these residential buildings, recently opened restaurants include Hawksmoor and Emilia’s Crafted Pasta, alongside a branch of Amazon Fresh. Mercato Metropolitano is set to open imminently within 10 George Street, a Build to Rent (BTR) development within Wood Wharf.

Additionally, residents benefit from the wider amenities found across Canary Wharf, including 300 shops, bars and restaurants, the UK’s largest free-to-visit award-winning public art collection, and over 100 culturally inspired events each year, most of which are free.

The final completion of phase 4, Wood Wharf will be 2028.

 
How are you seeking to foster community, welcome visitors and attract tenants. How are you responding to changing demographics, behaviours, market context, policy, transport habits and the climate crisis since winning planning?

Culture is at the heart of Wood Wharf, including a programme of public art, events and community initiatives. Meanwhile uses are driven by the principles of accessibility, cultural diversity, education, inclusion and innovation. 

Wood Wharf features a range of housing tenures, including open market sale, BTR, intermediate housing and affordable housing (which is owned and managed by Canary Wharf Communities).

The quality of service offered in CWG’s residential buildings has already been recognised by several awards, including HomeViews Development of the Year in 2021 and 2020. For more information see: www.homeviews.com/company/vertus/

To support the growing residential community, CWG is building a two-form entry primary school, an NHS medical surgery, and a leisure centre.

In response to changing attitudes to workspaces, CWG launched MadeFor, a new flexible office service, available at Wood Wharf. Ensuring a balanced mix of businesses on the Estate has always been a priority and there is a 55% / 45% split between financial and non-financial companies.

New green spaces already completed within Wood Wharf include Harbord Square Park, which provides a green oasis and safe children’s playground, and Harbour Quay Gardens, which has transformed previously used dock space into a relaxing green area with a tranquil boardwalk. Union Square Park is due to open in Wood Wharf this spring.

Wood Wharf is home to an ever-growing range of quality restaurants across all price points, grocery shops, boutiques, healthcare facilities, parks, and community spaces. It is a highly sustainable location with everything you would need on your doorstep.

What is your sustainability strategy and how are you mitigating carbon use and construction pollution? Please provide any evidence or data. 

CWG is the largest sustainable developer in the UK, with over 11 million sq ft of sustainably certified buildings. 

The Estate runs on 100% renewable electricity, and over six million pieces of single-use plastics have been reused or removed. It is home to 33 BREEAM buildings and Code for Sustainable Homes certified projects, as well as the largest installation of green roofs in the UK.

In Wood Wharf, the vision is to create a liveable urban neighbourhood where natural and built environments complement each other.

Over 33% of Wood Wharf is dedicated to parks, boardwalks and gardens, delivering 3.6 hectares of interconnected public open spaces, which in turn creates an oasis of calm, and one of London’s most well-connected neighbourhoods.

Wood Wharf Phase 1 had a target of 90% diversion from landfill rate for non-demolition waste, and 95% diversion from landfill rate for demolition and excavation waste during construction. All buildings will achieve a minimum of BREEAM Excellent, in line with CWG’s mission to create sustainable communities.

The first commercial building to be completed, 20 Water Street, has achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating at design stage, while the entire site has been designed to achieve at least a 45% reduction in overall CO2 emissions relative to Building Regulations Part L 2013 by energy efficient design and a heat and power plant district heating system.

 
Describe the social impact of the project: How is this place contributing to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of its citizens? Please provide any evidence or data. 

CWG has been a significant employer for the local community for more than 30 years, using local construction firms which have subsequently grown. In that time, CWG has provided over £500 million in support to Tower Hamlets. 

Wood Wharf has generated significant benefits for the borough, creating over 2,330 jobs for local people.

Homes are being provided in a range of tenures, including open market, PRS and affordable rents, which in turn is creating a diverse and vibrant residential community.

Local opinions matter and have been listened to: during the design phase there was a year of consultation involving over 1,000 local people, specialist consultancy with local children via youth organisation, Streets of Growth, and a 30 strong resident panel through planning and construction. Ideas and concerns were directly incorporated, including removing an entire block of potential buildings and replacing them with a park.

Canary Wharf Communities has been set up to own and operate CWG’s affordable portfolio of buildings within Wood Wharf - 30 Harbord Square, 50 Harbord Square and 65 Harbord Square - which collectively bring over 300 apartments at either Tower Hamlets Standard Rents or at 80 per cent of local market rents.

These buildings represent a new chapter for Canary Wharf and provide high-quality homes at affordable prices for local residents.

New green spaces already completed include Harbord Square Park and Harbour Quay Gardens, with more than 33% of Wood Wharf’s masterplan dedicated to parks, boardwalks and gardens.