Canada Water is a key regeneration area in the London Borough of Southwark, where both the Council and Mayor of London have identified an opportunity for significant levels of new development around the former dock basin. Two of the largest sites in the area are owned by Conrad Phoenix (Canada Water) Ltd, who Roger Tym & Partners has been advising since 2003.
Our work has involved the monitoring and submission of representations on emerging planning policy for the area, including location and topic-based supplementary planning guidance, together with a replacement unitary development plan. Representations on the emerging UDP and a subsequent appearance at the public inquiry resulted in the allocation of one the sites for residential-led development, Conrad Phoenix’s preferred use for the site, rather than solely business/industrial uses originally preferred by the Council.
More recently, we submitted applications for the redevelopment of the two sites. The first application, for the redevelopment of a site located adjacent to the Canada Water dock basin, includes:
- over 400 new homes
- a replacement store for the sports goods retailer Decathlon
- waterside cafes and restaurants.
The second, for the redevelopment of the adjacent site, includes:
- nearly 200 new homes
- business space and a hotel
- flexible community space at ground floor level.
Both applications propose extensive landscaping and basement car and cycle parking, whilst seeking to make the very best of Canada Water’s excellent public transport links. What is unusual about the scheme is the replacement of a retail warehouse-type development with a re-formatted retail store and underground parking, all embedded in a residential scheme, involving community, retail, café and other uses, to form a high density mixed-use scheme.
Our team coordinated both applications, overseeing the preparation of a wide range of supporting statements by specialist consultants, ranging from air quality to transport.
The submission of both applications follows a lengthy period of community engagement, led by M&N Communications, in which we have been closely involved. We also coordinated and led discussions with officers at both London Borough of Southwark and the Greater London Authority, dealing with issues including design, affordable housing and planning obligations.
