Canary Wharf student tower gets green light from GLA

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has granted permission for a 912-bedroom student accommodation scheme at Canary Wharf in east London.

Canary Wharf Group’s (CWG) 46-storey student accommodation tower at 7 Brannan Street in Wood Wharf was called in by the mayor’s office after being rejected by Tower Hamlets councul in November last year. 

The local authority had deemed that the development by “virtue of its density and high number of student occupants” would lead to anti-social behaviour and noise that would be “detrimental to the existing residential amenity of neighbouring properties”.

But officers at the GLA recommended the council’s decision be overruled, which was confirmed after a hearing yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).

Designed by Howells, the scheme includes a range of amenities at ground, mezzanine, ninth and roof levels, as well as ground floor retail and two waterside public gardens.

Others working on the scheme include Chapmanbdsp as M&E and sustainability engineer, Waterman Group as structural engineer, Arup as fire engineer, T&T Alinea as cost consultant and WSP as planning consultant.

>> See also: Canary Wharf unveils first images of what revamped HSBC tower will look like

The tower will be located to the south of Blackwall Basin and falls within both the Isle of Dogs Opportunity Area and the Wood Wharf masterplan, the latter of which was approved in December 2014 under outline planing permission for between 1,700 and 3,610 homes.

A S106 agreement for the scheme requires provision of 320 affordable rooms, secured at equal to or below 55% of the maximum government maintenance loan for living costs.

Tom Venner, chief development officer for Canary Wharf Group, said: “7 Brannan Street will be a fantastic addition to the diverse range of residential offerings at Canary Wharf.

“We are already home to world-leading education and learning facilities, including the UCL School of Management operating from One Canada Square.

“This building will help meet the demand for modern, high-quality accommodation located within a metropolitan environment offering a rich mix of retail, leisure, hospitality and green spaces for students to enjoy.”  

Canary Wharf has historically been office-focused and dominated by the financial and professional sectors, but recent years have seen CWG, which owns nearly 40ha of land across the estate, push for a diversification of the site, with additional residential, educational and life science uses.

CWG currently owns and manages interests in more than 1,100 build-to-rent apartments and claims that 3,500 people already live in Canary Wharf.

Earlier this year, the UCL School of Management doubled the size of its presence in the One Canada Square building in Canary Wharf.-