Canada Water has been recognised at leading real estate industry magazine Property Week’s 2025 Property Awards.
The ‘Outstanding Placemaking’ award went to British Land for the 53-acre development’s first phase, which is being delivered in partnership with AustralianSuper and due to complete this year.
Phase 1 – with its new homes, workspaces, leisure and retail, and open spaces – has built on the existing strengths of the Rotherhithe peninsula to protect and enhance its natural environment, celebrate its heritage, and create more opportunities for the community to thrive and grow.
Judges praised the future focus of the Canada Water masterplan, saying it “should be recognised for the clarity and quality of placemaking and the intrinsic value system that underpins the strategic approach to a dynamic and contemporary environment that anticipates the future.”
They looked at spaces for community use, such as the upcoming Canada Water Leisure Centre, the mosaic of wetland habitats established in the restored Canada Dock, created in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust, traversed by the 170m-long Rafter Walk, and open spaces for all to enjoy such as the dock edge’s seating, and Dock Office Gardens. The panel also considered British Land’s community engagement, enlivenment and activation through the London Mural Festival and Love Summer pop-ups.
Canada Water is fast establishing itself as the place to live, work and enjoy life, with places to meet friends, eat and drink. New restaurants and bars coming this year will include Village Tree and Sushi Revolution, run by local operators, additions to the local eating-out scene following Pacific Tavern, with the team behind Caravan successfully reviving a 1980s former pub to create a new concept restaurant, bar and music venue, and Corner Corner, the new leisure destination in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre on the south side of Canada Dock. Food, culture, live music and sustainable farming coalesce in the multi-faceted offer, delivered in partnership with leisure specialists Broadwick, street food pioneers KERB and and vertical farmers Harvest London.
Phase 1 will complete with the opening of the new Canada Water Leisure Centre. The state-of-the-art sports facility will offer an eight-lane swimming pool and learner pool, multi-court sports hall, gym, and studios for dance, spinning, and yoga classes, adding to the growing health and wellbeing offer at Canada Water for residents and visitors alike.
All of this cements Canada Water’s status as central London’s most exciting new town centre, and we’re proud of the work to bring this forward.
