Plot A1 reaches full height
AustralianSuper’s Alex Chitty (left) and British Land’s Emma Cariaga mark the ‘topping out’ of the new building at Plot A1
British Land and AustralianSuper have celebrated an important milestone in the rejuvenation of Canada Water, with the buildings at Plot A1 reaching their full height.
The new 35-storey structure will house 186 homes, including intermediate affordable homes, at The Founding, alongside warehouse-style flexible workspaces at Three Deal Porters in the adjacent building plus space for shops and restaurants on the ground floor.
The 100% electric buildings have been designed by award-winning architects Allies+Morrison and built by contractors Wates. It meets the highest standards for sustainability, technology and wellbeing, having been awarded multiple BREEAM accreditations in addition to being Outstanding WELL Gold Smart enabled.
The 8,400 sq ft of retail space on the ground floor will offer people in the area a range of options for eating and drinking, as the start of London’s first new town centre in a generation. The open-plan, net-zero homes are fitted out with interiors by international design studio Conran & Partners, while the 117,000 sq ft of workspace features floor-to-ceiling windows and views across the restored Canada Dock. Outdoor roof terraces across three floors for both residents and workers will provide unrivalled views of the London skyline.
The ‘topping out’ ceremony on Wednesday 6 March celebrated this important achievement in keeping plans for the 53-acre Canada Water development on track.
Emma Cariaga, Joint Head of Canada Water at British Land, said: “Canada Water represents a truly extraordinary opportunity to reimagine an entire neighbourhood in the heart of central London. Our vision is underpinned by building a place for everyone, from all walks of life, to make this a great place to live, work and socialise.
“The topping out of Plot A1 is a key moment in seeing our vision brought to life. In addition to new homes at The Founding, it will deliver highly sustainable workspaces, alongside new retail options and open spaces that support our wellbeing and wider environmental impact.”
Eddie Tribe, Managing Director of Major Projects at Wates, added: “At Wates, family values are at the heart of what we do, and we care about the communities we work in. Throughout this project, we have generated £3.6 million in social value and provided £2.4 million in local economic benefit to support the community. We have also been working in partnership with local schools and colleges to deliver work experience placements on site, seeking to encourage people from all backgrounds into our industry.”
Timelapse video showing the construction of Plot A1 (The Founding) and Plot A2
