EMERGING LONDON 2018

the place from the start. We’re not going to force community, but we have the ability to connect people. British Land plans to retain and manage the land at Canada Water once it has been developed. How does that affect how you build out the scheme? Roger In practical terms, it means we can spend more on public realm, more on infrastructure and more on future-proofing. I find it extremely satisfying to be able to think and plan for the long-term. And how does it feel to be working on Canada Water? Emma It’s a massive privilege and good fun, but also a huge responsibility to get it right, as this sort of opportunity doesn’t come up very often. Roger It makes me feel 30 again! I cannot think of another job that would be more exciting than building a whole piece of a city, with 35 buildings and 15 parks and squares. www.canadawatermasterplan.com We’re not going to force community, but we have the ability to connect people. Emma Cariaga What is your favourite part of London? The Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand – my dad was a Solicitor and I used to go with him to watch and listen. So, I enjoy spending time there now when I can. Do you have a personal ‘hidden London’ location you’d like to share? Inside the Barbican Centre – I used to walk around it and thought it was impenetrable, but the inside is incredible. Best location in London to shop for quirky gifts? Tate Modern gift shop. The Range (including the Canada Water branch) – it’s great for inflatable snowmen at Christmas! Parts of London you’d like to explore more? Crystal Palace What is your favoured form of transport around the capital? The tube. At a glance – CANADA WATER British Land owns 53 acres of former London Docklands on the south bank of the Thames near Rotherhithe. In May this year, they applied for Master Plan consent for a comprehensive redevelopment that will effectively create a new urban quarter in the London borough of Southwark. A total of 3,000 new homes, 1m sq ft of retail and leisure space and 2m sq ft workspace, plus a number of parks and dock habitats, are planned across an area that currently includes Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Surrey Quays Leisure Park and the SE16 Printworks. Barbican Centre, London - © Rob Bye Our aim is to end up with properties that local people can not only afford, but are actually attractive to them, which in turn will create a place where people want to stay. Talking of interesting environments, you seem to have been pleasantly surprised by the popularity of the Printworks (a former industrial building) as a temporary music venue. Emma The music events are really popular and we’ve recently adapted the space to allow live music which has seen performances from artists as diverse as Corrine Bailey Rae and Django Django. Given the history of the site and the amazing industrial interior, we are very much keeping an open mind on whether Printworks could form part of the longer-termmasterplan as an events space. For now, it is certainly helping to put Canada Water on the map. This must remind you (Roger) of previous regeneration projects you have worked on, most recently King’s Cross? Roger Actually, it is even more exciting than King’s Cross. The mix of uses is different to anything else, including the abundance of recreational space. You can do a 5km running circuit and only have to cross one main road. Well-being (i.e. both mental and physical health) will be built into the fabric of MY LONDON 19 18 CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD  | EMERGING LONDON SPOTLIGHT ON CANADA WATER