A place that's climate-ready and inclusive
Canada Water is designed for a changing world. Partnering with experts, we’ve embraced multiple approaches to ensure we’re making a place that’s resilient, efficient and low carbon in every way we can.
We’re also creating the new homes that London needs, designed for people of all ages, from young families and professionals to retirees.
Prioritising efficiency
Each building has its own heat network and we’ve pioneered heat sharing between workplaces and homes. This building-by-building approach will allow us to continue adapting to the latest technologies as each building goes up.
Recognised as pioneering through a BREEAM Innovation credit, workspace at Three Deal Porters shares waste heat with homes at The Founding next door. Heat-sharing is being adopted across the development.
Other efficiency improvements include natural ventilation, high-performance equipment for lighting, heating, cooling and lifts, and our award-winning smart system to monitor and optimise operational performance. Our design teams have also fine-tuned facades to limit heat loss and solar gain.
Fully electric
All workspaces and homes we manage across Canada Water are electric, moving completely away from fossil fuels decades ahead of others. This will provide a tangible positive impact on local air quality and mean that Canada Water businesses and residents benefit from Grid decarbonisation over time.
Once complete, at least 150,000 sq ft of photovoltaic panels across Canada Water will generate significant clean energy each year.
100% of electricity we buy will come from renewable sources, guaranteed by REGO certification.
Reducing carbon in construction
Our low-carbon design philosophy avoids superfluous elements and prioritises reuse. We measure embodied carbon across all elements of the development to understand our real impact, and use the data to drive change. As a result, every structure has a smaller carbon footprint than industry benchmarks.
All new buildings at Canada Water are designed for a longer lifespan, delivering flexible structures that can adapt to changes in how we live, work and play.
Working with Mace at Dock Shed, we saved 5,600 tonnes of embodied carbon through smart material choices. This is one of the first London buildings to use X-Carb steel, made of 100% recycled steel melted down in an electric arc furnace powered by renewables. 100% of raised access flooring is reused or recycled, saving carbon, while performing ‘as good as new’.
Paper Yard is composed of lightweight, reusable modules that can expand over time. The light structures also save on foundations, and modular assembly cuts construction waste by up to 90%.
Reclaimed steel trusses from the Printworks will be woven into the new adventure playground for children to enjoy.
Living roofs, rainwater harvesting and planting
Living roofs across Canada Water will span at least 280,000 sq ft – an area the size of about four football pitches. This will provide natural cooling, add insulation and reduce the urban heat island effect. It will also save people and businesses across Canada Water on their energy bills, while reducing carbon entering the atmosphere.
Greenery and substrates on living roofs will absorb 63% of rainfall, reducing and slowing stormwater run-off. In the next phase, we will add a sustainable drainage system with rain gardens and green channels (known as ‘swales’) that store and filter rainwater run-off at ground level.
Rainwater collected from rooftops of Three Deal Porters and Dock Shed is now replenishing Canada Dock.
Climate resilient planting includes heat and drought tolerant species such as melica ciliata and libertia grandiflora.
Green infrastructure, including around 1,000 trees being planted, will improve climate resilience, providing natural shade and absorbing rainfall.
Inclusive
planning
Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks are home to a diverse community of 30,000 people. This is a thriving neighbourhood that people are proud of. Hundreds of homes at Canada Water will be affordable for families and people on lower incomes, at social and intermediate rents. The first residents have already moved into 7 Roberts Close, delivered in partnership with Southwark Council. These are the first homes completed in the development, reflecting the importance we place on affordable housing.
The new Canada Water Leisure Centre opens in spring 2025, delivered in partnership with Southwark Council. Facilities include a 25m swimming pool, gym, four-court sports hall, two dance studios and a spin studio.
We’re investing £30m in transport, including improvements to Surrey Quays station already under way. There will also be 4.1km of new walkways and cycle paths across Canada Water, which along with 10,000 bike spaces and three Santander cycle hire stations will make active commuting easier.
22,400 sq ft of space is already free or discounted for charities, community groups, social enterprises and small businesses. Local charity Time & Talents has hosted free social events for people of all ages at the T&T2 hub in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre since 2017. Local artist Rod Kitson runs free art events and exhibitions at his Art of Isolation studio.
We’ve long hosted the Paper Garden with Global Generation. In recent years, we’ve co-funded the design of its new home by Jan Kattein Architects and joined a team of 3,000 volunteers, including our supplier partners, to deliver the build.
