Decathlon in Canada Water is vast, a multi-level temple to sports and outdoor equipment for all kinds of activities.
That the store sells bikes is nothing new. However, a major change has occurred.
For the first time, the French retailer has brought cycling products from its subsidiary Van Rysel into the store – the brand’s first presence in London.
Since its creation in 2018, the company has been making waves.
Flemish for “From Lille” its name recalls the location of Decathlon’s worldwide headquarters, conjuring forth images of the bumpy cobbled streets used to help prove its products’ mettle.
Located on the ground floor, Decathlon has dedicated a sizeable chunk of floorspace to this mission featuring bikes, clothing, workshop space and fitting facilities as well as racks of accessories.
It’s all aimed at drawing cyclists in, with eye-catching video displays, bright, glossy lighting and reflective blocks for the machines themselves to stand on.
Decathlon lead designer, Marc-Antoine Aubert, said “We opted for a distinct and eye-catching layout, with a centralised podium that showcases the hero Van Rysel bikes in the range.
“Behind this is the welcome desk, built from a material inspired by the famous showers of the Velodrome of Roubaix.
“Above the welcome desk is a large screen with a video playing that reflects and shines on the ‘miroir d’eau’ or ‘reflecting water’ of the big podium – that is a tribute to two main architectural jewels of the Roubaix area, the Villa Cavrois and the Museum La Piscine of Roubaix.
“Finally, the central structure is made out of steel grating, which took inspiration from the wind tunnel where Van Rysel developed its bikes.
“Each aspect of the store was considered and we can’t wait to see how the public engage with the space.”
The store has Van Rysel staff on hand to help with purchases and servicing
Ready to ride
It’s the bikes themselves, of course, that are the main attraction with a wealth of models released in recent years. Prices range from £999 to £5,500 for the core collections.
However, much was made at the store launch of the remarkable success currently being enjoyed by the bike used by pro team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.
The consumer version, the Van Rysel RCR Pro Replica, costs £9,000 (pricey but about £3,000 cheaper than comparable models) and has aerodynamics honed in military grade wind tunnels that has seen the machine that inspired it claim multiple professional racing victories so far this season.
Somehow its smoothed black lines fit perfectly in Decathlon’s new space.
Spare, economical, but rich in promise.
Van Rysel founder Nicolas Pierron
“We are thrilled to open our first Van Rysel store in London,” said brand founder Nicolas Pierron.
“This expansion is not just about opening a new store – it’s about inviting more people to experience the rich heritage and superior craftsmanship that Van Rysel stands for.
“We are excited to share our passion for cycling with the vibrant community of cyclists in London and look forward to becoming an integral part of the local culture.”
key details
Van Rysel’s products and workshop can be found on the ground floor of Decathlon in Canada Water.
The store is open 9am-8pm Monday-Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sundays.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
Location is often put forward as the single most important thing to consider when purchasing a property.
But what does this really mean in London?
In a capital as vast and diverse as ours, crucial to a buyer’s decision will be a home’s proximity to different modes of public transport, enabling rapid access to all the city has to offer.
Here, NHG Homes is currently offering a collection of 60 homes for sale on a shared ownership basis – nothing especially remarkable in that.
However, these properties are located in a transport sweet spot.
Not only are they two minutes from North Acton Tube station, offering Central line services across the city, they’re also a little over 10 minutes’ walk from Acton Main Line Station.
A show home interior at the development
That means access to the Elizabeth Line and with it fast connectivity across the capital.
From there, it’s 12 minutes to Tottenham Court Road for Soho and Oxford Street, 21 minutes to Heathrow Airport or 25 minutes all the way over to Canary Wharf in east London.
This promises a commute for Wharfers of less than 40 minutes door-to-door – enviable compared to many other areas.
Prices for the one and two-bedroom homes start at £108,750 and £121,250 respectively for 25% based on full market values of £435,000 and £485,000.
The entry level property could be purchased with a deposit of less than £5,500.
So what can buyers expect from The Perfume Factory apartments?
NHG Homes’ properties feature open-plan layouts with wood-effect floors and mirrored fitted wardrobes.
Buyers will also get private balconies and fitted kitchens with energy fitted Bosch appliances.
These energy-efficient machines fit neatly into a wider focus on sustainability with the scheme also boasting cycle storage and communal spaces powered by the integrated solar panels.
Apartments start at £108,750 for a 25% share in a one-bedroom home
Purchasers will also enjoy access to landscaped, communal gardens on-site.
NHG Homes’ head of marketing and digital, Amie Triphook Cole, said: “North Acton is an up-and-coming part of London, which is already attracting many first-time buyers from all over the capital – including places like Canary Wharf – who are looking for a work life balance.
“The area is set to experience continued growth in the coming years, making this a great time to purchase.
“Homes at The Perfume Factory offer both comfort and practicality with high quality interiors, superb transport connections via the Elizabeth Line and Central line, and plenty of local amenities – ideal for first-time buyers looking to make the city their home.”
Local transport links might offer residents the option of rapidly travelling to multiple locations around London, but Acton has many attractions of its own too.
These include an array of local cafes, bars and restaurants such as the award-winning Stones Fish And Chips.
A little further afield, Westfield London and Ealing Broadway offer a wealth of places to eat, drink and shop.
There are also many green spaces to explore locally including North Acton playing fields, The Grand Union Canal and Pitschinger Park – home to rose gardens.
Why not look west when hunting for a way to get on the ladder?
NHG Homes is currently offering £2,000 contribution towards moving in on the first 10 homes reserved by May 31, 2024
key details
NHG Homes is currently selling one and two-bedroom properties at The Perfume Factory in North Acton on a shared ownership basis.
Prices start at £108,750 and £121,250, respectively for 25%, both available with a 5% deposit.
Service charge rates are estimated at around £3.80 per sq ft. Rent is paid on the un-owned portion of the property.
NHG Homes is currently offering £2,000 contribution towards moving in on the first 10 homes reserved by May 31, 2024
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
Tere’s something brewing at The Space, steeping, infusing, intensifying.
Ingredients are coming together and there’s change in the air.
That’s because The Space Bar – the arts centre’s food, drink and occasional event venue – is all set to welcome a new head chef.
Leslie Nkansah became a cook “by mistake”. Unsure of what to do after leaving school in Shepherd’s Bush at 16, a careers advisor mentioned the idea of an apprenticeship.
“They said I’d get paid while I worked and a qualification as well, so I went along,” said Les.
“That was at Mezzo in Wardour Street, which was owned by Conran.
“It was one of the biggest restaurants in Europe at the time and I spent four years there under head chef John Torode.”
Suffice to say, the Masterchef presenter isn’t the only big name influence on Leslie’s CV.
From Mezzo, he went on to work with Henry Harris of Hush and Racine fame, spent a year in Switzerland and came back to the UK to work with Gordon Ramsay, opening the York And Albany near Regent’s Park – now closed and recently occupied by squatters.
“I fell into doing a few events after that like Royal Ascot and then went back to work for John Torode at Smith’s Of Smithfield, where I was head chef in 2011,” said Leslie.
“I was then asked by them if I’d like to go back to Switzerland as they were opening a restaurant and I spent three years working there mainly in the ski season.
“That’s when I heard about the super yachts – people would head down from the mountains to Nice and Antibes, so I jumped on that.
“I worked on some amazing vessels – the amount of money and produce just blew me away. You can’t experience how those people live until you’re in that environment.
“I stayed out there until 2017, when I decided to come back to England – I had some savings and decided to start Black Star Kitchen.
“I got the name from the Ghanaian flag – my dad’s from Ghana and my mum’s half Scottish.”
Having returned to the UK, Leslie set about cooking anything and everything – including creating pop-up Ten Radius, a fine dining residency in Brighton where 80% of the ingredients were sourced from within 10 miles of the venue.
“Then Covid hit and put a spanner in the works for a lot of things,” he said. “After the pandemic, I found Fat Boy’s Diner at Trinity Buoy Wharf.
“I took that on for just over a year but unfortunately the footfall and the cost of living crisis meant my pockets weren’t deep enough to keep it going.
“That was a shame because it’s a beautiful establishment and I had a lot of ideas and plans for it.”
Bar board chair at The Space, Andrew Finnegan
a move to the Island
It was also there that Leslie met Andrew Finnegan, bar board chair at The Space, whose interest was piqued by a serving of deep-fried olives.
Discussions that started around Leslie doing a pop-up took a different turn when a vacancy for head chef at the venue came up.
Now he’s set to take over the kitchen full-time from mid May, 2024.
“We relaunched the kitchen approximately 18 months ago and we always knew that food was one of the levers we could pull to increase trade at the venue to support the work The Space does,” said Andrew.
“We’d launched brunch in October and the idea was to have pop-ups and guest chefs.
“Pre-Covid it was a lively spot and now we have a full-time chef again, we want to get back to that.
“Menu-wise it’s about getting re-established, attracting that footfall and then we can experiment.”
fresh direction
Leslie added: “I got really excited when I saw the building and the outside space – there’s so much potential.
“I want to create a community hub where people can come to meet up, grab a good snack and mingle.
“Everyone needs a place where they can come, no matter what their background, have good food and good drinks and enjoy the vibes – that’s my intention.
“Food-wise I’m looking at doing the same sort of thing I was doing at Fat Boy’s.
“There will be burgers and snacks, but I also want to play around with traditional English dishes like scotch eggs.
“I have a vegetarian one with beetroot and another where I use duck to coat the eggs.
“The layout at The Space is quite informal, so it will be grab-and-go – accessible dishes.”
supporting The Space
The plan is very much to make use of Leslie’s talents to build up the venue, with dishes that fit alongside the multitude of shows and events it hosts.
Andrew said: “It will be really nice when we get this going.
“Our brunches have been successful and their growth has been organic – people try it once and then come back.
“The more people who come here for the food and drink means the more money The Space has and the more shows it can put on its stage.”
While the bar has naturally been a stop-off for those coming to the Island for performances, it’s long played a dual role as a meeting point and welcoming haven for local residents.
Initially Leslie’s menus will aim to serve both communities with dishes appealing to wide audiences.
However, further down the line there will hopefully be scope to experiment – an obvious step with such serious talent in the kitchen.
“I really do like to cook everything,” said Leslie.
“I love good ingredients, I love playing with food and putting ingredients in which wouldn’t normally go together and seeing if they work.
“At the moment, I’m really getting into fermenting things.
“Of course I like cooking traditional dishes – I’ve learnt from every kitchen I’ve been in – and I think my Sunday roast is among the best in the country – although that’s yet to be proven.
“I also love smoking meat, brisket or even cauliflower. I like sweet flavours with spice – lots of chillies but with maple syrup.
“My signature dish was wood pigeon with trompet mushroom puree, caramelised shallot and tapenade.
“If all this works out, I definitely want to discuss the idea of a supper club here.”
We can’t wait…
key details
The Space is located in Westferry Road on the Isle Of Dogs and is easily reached in less than 10 minutes from Canary Wharf via the D7, 277 or 135 direct buses.
Current opening hours for The Space Bar are noon-11pm Mon-Thurs, noon-midnight on Fridays, 10am-midnight on Saturdays and 10am-10.30pm on Sundays.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
Blockchain is one of those technologies that can be daunting in its vastness.
First conceived in the early 1990s, not much happened until 2009, when Bitcoin arrived and its profile rose as the system underpinning that and other cryptocurrencies.
Then there was the mostly art-focused explosion and crash of the non-fungible tokens or NFT market.
But quietly in the background – while the hype has raged – bright minds have been carefully considering what blockchain might most functionally and profitably be used for now and in the future.
What applications does an immutable, secure ledger for practically any kind of data, protected by encryption and distributed across a network of computers, actually have?
Set to be held at Excel from May 21-23, 2024, the event expects to attract more than 5,000 delegates in person who will be able to listen to more than 150 speakers and dozens of cutting-edge exhibitors working in the sector.
“Its purpose is to move the needle forward on enterprises and governments adopting blockchain technology,” said Alex Stein, conference director.
“What we want to do is cut through a lot of the conversations, which tend to be about cryptocurrencies.
“The event is about how useful the technology can be and its impact, looking holistically across different industries and government – we want to bring everyone together to move those discussions forward and educate people.
“We’ve held conferences around the world on this topic but last year we made the decision to find a home in London.
“It makes sense because it’s a hub for fintech, finance and regulation, all of which are very important for the technology.
“That’s why we’ve based it here and renamed it the London Blockchain conference.
“We want it to be the main event for businesses in Europe, and eventually globally, which will show people the practical applications of the technology – people who want to get together and talk about problems and solutions to them.
“This is the event for people with questions about blockchain to find answers – perhaps you’re the person who has been tasked with looking into a solution for your company or you’re a CEO or founder who would like to know more.
“The event is an amazing opportunity to be at the forefront of the technology and to meet people from startups, scaleups, investors and big companies.”
He’s an electronics and telecommunications engineer by background and a self confessed lover of low-level engineering – good products and good systems, as he puts it.
“As a technologist, I always look at things through that lens,” said Richard.
“As an exhibitor of applications on blockchain I think the conference is at the heart of what London has always been really excellent at – curating the many faces of financial service offerings both nationally and internationally.
“Tokenovate specialises in derivative trading – we’ve built the next generation life cycle engine.
“It’s a platform for how derivatives are getting tokenised, expressed as smart contracts and executing their life-cycle events on a blockchain.
“There is no doubt in my mind of the journey that’s under way in financial services – not just in London, but globally.
“We’re seeing something in the order of $16trillion of assets expected to be tokenised in the next five to 10 years – land, property, commercial real estate, bonds and more.
“This is probably one of the most exciting financial services transformations we have seen in 40 years – a real overhaul – and the economics that go with it as we adopt this new way of expressing value and building products.
“This conference touches on a lot of those really important characteristics.
“In my humble opinion, blockchain has been one of the slowest technologies to come to market.
“It’s been more than 15 years and there has been a lot of misdirection with the journey of cryptocurrencies – but now we’re seeing businesses and organisations around the world look at it as an infrastructure technology, really focusing on its utility value.
“That’s what this conference is about.”
Both Alex and Richard agree that the potential for the technology is huge, making discussion of its implications and regulation essential.
“It’s fantastic to have people like Richard at the forefront to push the boundaries of what this technology can do,” said Alex.
“There are so many sectors that can be touched by blockchain, such as supply chains and healthcare as well as local and national government.
“There are so many opportunities and we want people to be able to see how blockchain can be a part of their digital transformation.
The conference is taking place at Excel in Royal Docks
“The point of the technology is to make things quicker, cheaper and better. What blockchain gives you in terms of its scalability, speed and stability will eventually change the world.
“It will become the plumbing that everyone expects to be in place and relies on to do business. In 10 years we’ll talk about it in less depth because it will be there.”
Richard added: “As a technologist, I often think in terms of 100 years.
“We’re only 30 or 40 years into a meaningful part of the digital age.
“Built into Tim Berners- Lee’s World Wide Web protocol is the fact that the internet was conceived as a medium of exchange for data but not money.
“There has always been a gap for the right financial system to be plugged in and that’s part of the journey we’re on in society.
“Crypto has been a use case for the technology – it’s animated how smart contracts work, tokenising things and what a modern marketplace could look like and it’s certainly accelerated G20 regulators looking at blockchain and asking how it will apply to traditional instruments.
“I also echo what Alex says, that as a society we’re increasingly looking for provenance.
“In food, for example, using blockchain as an immutable, time-stamped record keeper, you could know when something was pulled out of the ground, when it was shipped, what the weather conditions were like and who the farmer was.
“I’m sorry to say this but we do live in a world where trust is being increasingly re-sought.
“We have a lot of disinformation and immutable record keeping is one mechanism we can use to help us re-establish that trust. I think it has an important role to play.”
The conference is pitched at all levels with the aim of including as many organisations as possible, so there’s very much a place for those whose understanding of the technology is rudimentary.
“On day one in the morning, we host a session called Blockchain 101,” said Alex. “We also have a session on what a smart contract is and so on.
“We’re located two minutes and 57 seconds from Canary Wharf or 14 minutes from Tottenham Court Road – there’s a whole expo floor and so much content and networking to get involved with.
“I just love bringing people together, out of the office, for face-to-face conversations.
“There will also be a fantastic, informal drinks reception on the first night, which will be really lively.
“Having lived through the pandemic, when conferences were digital, it’s great to be hosting live events.
“Before the Elizabeth Line was in place, Excel used to feel a little out of the way but now it’s so well connected to the rest of London.
“Our event will take place in its dedicated conference centre, which is perfect for the kind of programme we’re hosting – although we’re certainly looking to the future and will perhaps one day occupy one of its halls.”
Anyone interested in exhibiting at the London Blockchain Conference or participating in its event can find full listings and information online.
Excel is easily reached from Canary Wharf in less than three minutes via the Elizabeth Line
WHAT’S ON
There’s a wealth of potential topics, but what can delegates expect from the event at Excel in May?
“There’s also our spotlight stage out on the exhibition floor, so there’s great variation in what’s on offer.
“We’ll have session on the regulatory side of things, blockchain and AI plus blockchain and the Internet Of Things.
“We’ll be looking at business cases and opportunities to innovate in all of these areas.”
In addition to Richard, confirmed speakers include representatives from Channel 4, nChain, Business Kitz, Ayre Ventures, BSV Blockchain, Project Babbage, Gate2Chain and Family Office Venture Capital.
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key details
The London Blockchain Conference is set to take place at Excel in Royal Docks over three days from May 21-23, 2024.
Excel is easily accessed via Custom House station on the Elizabeth Line (less than three minutes from Canary Wharf) or Prince Regent DLR.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
We’re sat in front of the frankly huge, gold-framed plate glass windows in a show apartment in The Pearsall building at Ballymore’s Riverscape scheme.
The effect of this expansive, considered glazing is to portion up the apartment’s views over the Thames of east and south-east London into gilt-edged postcards of a vibrant, ever-changing city and skyline.
It’s a part of the capital Brian’s career in property has deeply intertwined with.
Working for the likes of Berkeley Group, Mount Anvil and Canary Wharf Group, he’s helped countless buyers find new homes here, at developments up and down the river.
It would be fair to say while those developers have built the structures that have transformed Docklands, his job has been to convince house hunters to live in them, helping to create the emerging communities which have replaced industrial decline.
He joined Ballymore a little over seven months ago as managing director of sales and marketing and is relishing the opportunity to work on its existing schemes and a rich pipeline.
Ballymore managing director of sales and marketing, Brian De’ath
“Our industry is very small – people bump into each other all the time – so I got to know my predecessor, Jenny Steen, over the years and I’d always got on tremendously well with her and had great respect for Ballymore as a company,” said Brian.
“For me it was good timing that a position arose at a company I really wanted to work for.
“Looking at what Ballymore has done over the years, I’d been impressed with its level of integrity in terms of acquiring a site and taking the soul of the area into account.
“I think it’s in the company’s DNA to say: ‘We’re going to treat each individual project in its own right and on its own merits’, rather than taking a model and replicating it.
“Instead, the company asks what each development needs and what it can do to enhance the local area.
“Ballymore was one of the first developers there and for the company to take that leap of faith and imagination was tremendously exciting.”
The Pearsall features large windows with views across the Thames
Simply put, the developer has built a sizeable portion of the east London we see around us today.
In partnership with EcoWorld it’s delivered Wardian – just over the dock from Canary Wharf on the Isle Of Dogs – and London City Island at Leamouth, which included a new home for the English National Ballet and a vital bridge over the River Lea, linking the area to Canning Town station.
The latter has since been effectively extended as a campus, with Ballymore’s Goodluck Hope project filling a patch of land between the Thames and the smaller river with warehouse-style buildings and townhouses.
While the company’s impact has already been profound on the shape of housing close to Canary Wharf, it’s also been transformational for the regeneration of Royal Docks.
Working with Oxley, it’s Royal Wharf scheme has seen a town of more than 3,000 homes built beside the water close to the Thames Barrier.
The Pearsall features open-plan apartments
The partners are currently building Riverscape – a development of more than 750 homes on a strip of land leading up to the river between Royal Wharf and the 100-year-old Lyle Park.
Located right on the water, it houses 137 apartments – with one, two and three-beds available – and is due for completion in the summer.
“It’s in a super spot with views across Lyle Park and down the Thames to Canary Wharf,” said Brian.
“You’ve got 100-year-old trees in front of you, with the park celebrating its centenary in 2024 and then there’s the river itself – imagine the sun setting behind the towers on the skyline with the water in front. It’s a great spot and we’re delighted with it.
“Historically if you’d asked me how close I’d want a building to be to the Thames, I’d have always said right next to it.
“But while working for Canary Wharf Group and selling homes at South Bank Place, which has Jubilee Gardens in front of it and then the river beyond, I learnt that having the contrast between the green space and the water can be incredibly special.
Properties feature built-in storage in the main bedrooms
“I get that same feeling at The Pearsall. I think it offers unrivalled value at its price point.
“The quality of the architecture and the interior design has absolutely not been seen in this location before.”
The properties feature open-plan design, big windows, built-in wardrobes, walk-in showers and high quality timber flooring.
Part of the attraction for buyers will also be the prospect of moving to a neighbourhood that’s well established, albeit one with significant regeneration to come.
This should mean improved access to nearby Pontoon Dock DLR, a new bridge across Royal Victoria Dock for better access to the Elizabeth Line and an expansive swathe of development by Lendlease as its transforms the land around Millennium Mills.
But right now residents who move into Riverscape will benefit from Royal Wharf’s extensive offering.
That includes a 25m swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, jacuzzi and a gym in its Clubhouse, on-site security and a wealth of established businesses including a nursery, cafes, restaurants, a GP, a dentist and The Windjammer pub.
Residents can enjoy views over Lyle Park to Canary Wharf
There are also regular farmers’ markets and community events to look forward to.
However, to consider The Pearsall even at this level of isolation would be to do a disservice to the area and its future.
One of the key things buyers must consider when making a purchase is how likely an area is to be attractive in the coming decades.
The Pearsall sits at the apex of a scheme that slots neatly into a vibrant community.
This is located in Royal Docks, London’s only enterprise zone, which is currently enjoying billions of pounds of inward investment as public bodies and private companies work to regenerate land abandoned by industry.
So those making a purchase now are likely to benefit further from such mammoth milestones as the opening of the nearby Silvertown Tunnel, the expansion of Excel and a wealth of future development.
Ballymore itself has two more substantial schemes in the pipeline – one on the other side of Lyle Park at Knights Road and another further east at UNEX-Thames Road, on the other side of Thames Barrier Park.
“To buyers now, we’re not saying you have to be pioneers at all, but part of the attraction of buying here is to be part of the journey that’s coming,” said Brian.
Glazing at The Pearsall portions up the London skyline into gilt-edged postcards
“Ballymore has the fourth largest pipeline of any developer in London and that’s incredible for a privately managed business.
“Knights Road will have around 1,250 homes, although the numbers may change as it goes through the planning process.
“It’s got a lovely scale to it and, for me, it feels like placing the next piece in a jigsaw puzzle.
“The east of Lyle Park will be fully developed and accessible to residents and the new scheme will join on to that – ultimately the whole area will be read as one.
“When you walk around Mayfair or Belgravia, nobody thinks about which buildings were created as part of which schemes – people experience them as single places and that will happen here too.
“We’re also very lucky to have the UNEX site, which will be about 1,400 homes with some very interesting designs coming, including some for light industrial use.
That means an opportunity for great architecture and businesses – a small brewery, perhaps – mixing in with the apartments.
“We’ll be creating large parks as part of these schemes too and opening up the river.
“We want to work with local stakeholders to do this because we see the value in it for residents and visitors.
“When you look at Ballymore’s investment, there’s no-one doing more in this part of London – it’s something we take incredibly seriously.”
Homes at Ballymore’s Goodluck Hope scheme at Leamouth are still available
ALSO AVAILABLE – Goodluck Hope
Ballymore is currently marketing properties at its Goodluck Hope development, a little further west along the Thames
“This has been a tremendously successful development by Ballymore,” said Brian.
“The scheme includes a wonderful mix of architecture with a mixture of townhouses, towers, low-rise buildings and a refurbished dry dock.
“There’s a grocery open there now and a bakery and cafe as well as all the amenities as London City Island. We currently have about 100 homes left at Goodluck Hope.”
A show home interior at Goodluck Hope
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key details
Apartments at The Pearsall start at £435,000 for a one-bedroom property. Completion is expected this summer.
Homes are also on sale at Ballymore’s Goodluck Hope scheme in Leamouth. Prices start at £425,000 for a studio.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
Large regeneration projects are a marathon, not a race.
Their benefits often appear incrementally – a crescendo building to something truly revolutionary for an area transforming the lives of those who live and work in it.
As those who’ve already read this piece will know, the first of up to 3,000 homes to be delivered across the site are now on sale.
But this article is about more immediate, material changes that are coming.
Nearing completion, for example, are the luxurious red curves of Asif Khan’s boardwalk, dipping pond and pergola which form the centrepiece of a package of improvements to Canada Dock itself.
Those arriving at the station will be confronted by an enriched waterside habitat replete with reed beds, benches and steps down to the dock edge – all aimed at boosting biodiversity, water quality and access to the blue stuff.
But these installations aren’t just a pretty gimmick – they’re a practical statement of intent, guiding visitors more directly towards what will be the new town centre.
In the meantime, the bridge will also bring people to a new foodie destination that is expected to open up at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.
“While we’re waiting to redevelop it, we’re in the process of taking back the unit that’s currently home to The Range,” said Emma Cariaga, joint head of Canada Water at British Land.
“We’re going to convert that into a food, beverage and cultural space, which will start to be symbolic of the sort of programmes we’ll be running locally.
“That will be in place before Christmas and the bridge is set to open around September time.
“Both should be open before we complete on our first buildings at the end of the year and will be a really good amenity for them.
British Land’s joint head of Canada Water, Emma Cariaga
“They too will have restaurants and cafés on the ground floor – overlooking the water at the front and spilling out into a courtyard at the back.
“What we consistently hear from residents locally is that they love Canada Water but what they need in the short term is more places to eat and drink.
All this speaks to a key benefit of having a single developer involved with a project for a significant period of time.
British Land, now backed by the financial muscle of pension fund AustralianSuper, knows it has to deliver a consistent, compelling pipeline of amenities and attractions with visitors as much as it is future residents.
Fortunately it has both the time, money and imagination to do this, having already altered its scheme to include the retention and upgrading of Printworks London as a venue.
“We’ve worked really well with Broadwick, which has run the venue – it surpassed all our hopes and dreams of what it could become,” said Emma.
“It’s seen millions of people pass through its doors over the past six years and, while it’s become best known for electronic dance music, we’ve also had the Canadian Royal Ballet, Secret Cinema, the BBC Proms and a whole range of product launches, conferences and studios using it as a filming location.
“This diversity really gave us confidence that we wanted to keep it as part of the project.
“Ultimately people will come to Canada Water because they live here or work here – but the key to success is also to get them to visit because they enjoy what’s here.
“Printworks has done that – we’ve had visitors not only from across London and the UK but also internationally.
“It has that kind of reach. It will be a catalyst for the site’s ongoing development.”
In addition to housing, plans for Canada Water include some 2million sq ft of office space, 650,000sq ft of retail and leisure space and 12 acres of new public space.
“We’ll be delivering a really healthy mix – somewhere that people will want to live and work, but also great places to come out and enjoy themselves,” said Emma.
“We have lots of open spaces all around us with Southwark Park on our western boundary and Russia Dock Woodland to the east.
“Then we’ve got our own spaces including the most significant which is a new public park of three-and-a-half-acres.
How the first phase of Canada Water will look when exiting the Tube station
“That will be delivered alongside Printworks and we hope to start work before the end of the year once we’ve got planning permission.
“Construction will then take about two years.”
Alongside the cultural venue, Printworks is expected to house 158,000sq ft of flexible workspace, and boast 10,000sq ft of external terraces on its third and sixth floors with views across London.
Also mooted is a full complement of food and drink establishments to keep both visitors and workers appropriately sated.
Coming sooner to the overall scheme will be The Dock Shed – one of the buildings delivered as part of phase one.
Located next to residential tower The Founding, and just a few seconds from the station, this combines 180,000sq ft of office space over five floors with a new leisure centre to be run by Southwark Council.
This includes pools, sports courts and a gym spread over the basement and ground floor of the structure.
“We’re really pleased to have this facility, which includes an eight-lane, 25m pool because it will provide constant footfall,” said Emma.
That’s something that, with all these plans progressing, is only set to increase in the years to come.
key details
The Canada Water masterplan covers 53 acres of space on the Rotherhithe peninsula and will see a new high street and shopping destination created alongside 3,000 homes.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
“People are smart nowadays, they’re not just buying somewhere because it’s a great place to live – they’re looking at lots of different elements and whether they’re going to see capital growth on their purchase,” said Yolanda Jacob, sales and marketing director at Barratt East London.
“Even if they stay for five years, they want to see a property will be a good investment for them.
“Buying at the beginning of regeneration is nearly always the best time to purchase, because you’re going to see capital growth because of everything that’s going on in the area.”
We’re discussing Bermondsey Heights, the developer’s latest south-east London scheme.
When complete, the Ilderton Road complex will house 163 one, two and three-bedroom homes as well as 32 shared ownership apartments, rising to 26 storeys at its highest point.
This includes the Skyline Collection, a clutch of properties spread over the top four floors with an enhanced specification and, presumably, the best views the scheme has to offer.
Barratt has a bit of a track record in building developments in areas that then go on to see vast swathes of regeneration unfolding, with buyers enjoying the upswing in property values and boost in amenities that result.
Maple Quays at Canada Water and Enderby Wharf on Greenwich Peninsula would be two examples.
This could well be true for Bermondsey Heights as well.
The development features views across London from its communal roof terrace
Over the road to the north, Renewal has plans for some 3,500 homes, office spaces and, potentially, a new Windrush Line station on land surrounding Millwall FC’s ground.
For context, New Bermondsey is a scheme comparable in size to Royal Arsenal Riverside in Woolwich or Kidbrooke Village.
“House prices locally are forecast to rise by 25%, which is huge compared with other areas,” said Yolanda.
“People who bought at the start of similar schemes in Brixton, Shoreditch or King’s Cross will be very happy with their investment after five or 10 years.
“These are destinations people now go to for socialising, entertainment and shopping.”
But what will those future residents actually be purchasing?
“Each apartment will have outside space – either a winter garden or a balcony,” said Yolanda.
“They have open-plan living areas and kitchens with all your appliances, finished to a high specification.
“Buyers can have the option to choose a colour scheme – they can bespoke the apartment and pick flooring, tiles, carpets and bathroom decor.
“The designs are very fresh, clean and bright.
Apartments feature open-plan design
“We also offer furniture packages, with designers who can come in and help buyers personalise their home.
“Then there’s a concierge service at the development as well as a podium garden and a roof terrace for residents.”
While some developments come stuffed with facilities, Barratt’s approach in South Bermondsey is to pare back its offering to keep service charges down in a move it believes will be attractive to buyers.
“These days new-builds offer so many options,” said Yolanda. “There are developments offering cinemas and golf simulators, but you’re going to pay a lot for those facilities.
“What we want to do is make sure we’re building homes that are affordable, and where they don’t have the worry of having to pay thousands of pounds a year on service charges, for facilities they may not use that much.
“In the middle of London such amenities can easily be found and we don’t want to tie people into spending lots of money on things they don’t want to use.
“Our aim is to cover the basics and then leave it up to personal choice.
“That way we can keep the service charge to around £3 per square foot, which is attractive to buyers.”
Bermondsey Heights is located within 10 minutes’ walk of South Bermondsey station for services into London Bridge.
Residents can also walk 15 minutes to Surrey Quays station for Overground services on the Windrush Line and connections to Canary Wharf within two stops.
One, two and three-bedroom homes are available
“It’s a largely unregenerated area at the moment with industrial units, workshops and warehouses – but there’s a major injection of funding coming and it has brilliant backup with its neighbouring places,” said Yolanda.
“You’ve got Deptford down the road, which has seen quite a bit of a resurgence in popularity as well as Surrey Quays and Elephant And Castle, which have already seen extensive regeneration.
“Then there’s New Bermondsey in the pipeline.
“Bermondsey Heights for people looking for affordability and somewhere they can put down some roots.
“It’s an interesting proposition in terms of pricing – statistics from JLL show we’re about 19% lower compared with other Zone 2 developments across the capital.
“That’s been a huge draw for people whether they’re buying for investment or to live in because they can see lots coming here and that the infrastructure is going to improve.”
An explanation, perhaps, for the fact Barratt’s scheme is already more than 50% sold.
Be quick.
need to know
Properties are now on sale at Bermondsey Heights through Barratt East London.
Prices start at £490,000.
A new show home is set to launch at the development in May, 2024, with further details available online.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
There’s an energy about Jenna and Julian Dominique.
Together since their teens, they’ve spent years exploring the globe from their base in east London – often theming trips around physical challenges or experiences – and all while pursuing different career paths.
Jenna, raised in Chingford, is a business, career and pitch coach with a complement of brightly coloured blazers and a speciality in public speaking and hosting events.
Having settled in Beckton, the couple have brought their talents together to create DAT Adventures.
“We first came up with the idea a few years ago and did some research around it,” said Jenna.
“When you’re physically active – thinking about your health and wellbeing – you’re also more productive.
Participants on an urban hike from Royal Docks to Tower Bridge
“DAT is all about trying to help our clients maximise their potential and improve their performance.”
Starting out with urban hikes from UEL’s Royal Docks campus to Tower Bridge via the Thames Path around the Isle Of Dogs and then venturing to Box Hill in Surrey, the company’s natural evolution is to take its founders’ expertise and combine them on retreats.
“We’ve always travelled – to Egypt, Japan, South America – and we’ve based many of those trips around activities such as climbing or swimming,” said Jenna.
“Julian has had personal training clients who have said they’d love to do something similar but hadn’t had the opportunity.”
Julian added: “Many are desk-based or working from home, so I’ve been helping them with things like posture – but since Covid there’s also been a lot more on the mental health side.
“We know from our own experience that being outdoors in nature is great for that and from the hikes we’ve done that doing something physical and having tangible goals people can achieve is really good.”
DAT’s urban hikes take in the sights and some local history
This year, DAT plans to host retreats in Yorkshire, with participants tackling the three peaks led by qualified mountain guide Julian in June.
Both will also include one-on-one coaching sessions with Jenna with a tailored action plan produced to help participants work towards their personal and professional goals – with follow-ups after for guidance and encouragement.
“This is a big year for us, with these two retreats,” said Jenna.
“We’ve spent time in both places testing everything so we know the areas very well and have made friends there. It’s something a bit different, not just Yoga.
“Our urban hikes have tended to attract city workers – often people with startups or businesses who want to give themselves a bit of a break by getting out of the workspace and exploring.
“With those we’ve offered personal coaching during the hikes and that’s had a really nice impact.
DAT’s next retreat will take place in Yorkshire
“The retreats offer something more structured.”
For Yorkshire, that includes a full three-night itinerary with development sessions woven in around the hiking and the food – all of which is included in the price.
Julian said: “There’s a real focus on nutrition for health and wellbeing – we’re aiming to make the meals quite a big part of the retreat.”
The couple have teamed up with Michaela Hanna, a private chef and MasterChef The Professionals contestant from Yorkshire for their UK retreat.
“People need to consume the calories before they burn them,” said Jenna.
“The goal for us is to make sure we’re doing something really beneficial. What we’ve done already has been really good and the feedback has been great.
“For Yorkshire, guests will stay at the Three Peaks Barn, which offers hot tubs, a sauna, a pool table, beautiful rooms and has amazing views of the Ribblehead Viaduct.”
Julian added: “The challenge is to do the hike in 12 hours – we begin at 5am. I’ll be taking the lead on that.
“We last did it in 10 hours, but that was during the pandemic and the pubs were closed.
“In addition to meals at the barn, Michaela will meet the group halfway through the hike and provide lunch from her vehicle.
“After the retreat, I’ll always be on hand for anyone who wants advice on exercise or nutrition – they’ll also become part of my personal training community.”
This will be followed by a trip to Canada later in the year
Vancouver will offer a similar timetable albeit with an extra night and a greater focus on other activities.
These have yet to be confirmed but, alongside hikes, are likely to include climbing and paddle-boarding as well as an opportunity to take in some of the sights.
What is clear is Jenna and Julian’s passion for delivering memorable, productive adventures.
In essence it’s how they live their own lives and their business is an extension of that.
key details
DAT Adventures’ forthcoming retreat in Yorkshire is set to take place from June 5-8.
Places cost £850 per person or £1,530 for couples and include all meals, accommodation, retreat guide services and personal coaching sessions.
The retreat size is capped at 10 people.
The company’s retreat to Vancouver will take place from October 27-30 and costs £1,850 per person or £3,330 for couples and includes two meals a day, all retreat activities, accommodation, personal coaching and retreat guide services.
The retreat size is capped at eight people.
Travel to the retreat locations is not included in the packages.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
Dominating that site is the steel-clad edifice of The Founding, the project’s first residential tower, and every inch of its 35 storeys a flagship structure.
While its neighbouring buildings will contain a leisure centre, workspace and places to eat and drink, apartments mean people in residence 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, a potent addition to an already thriving south-east London community.
The building boasts views of central London and Canary Wharf
Over 12 years, the wider 53-acre site will have much more to come but our focus here is on what The Founding will offer as a place to live.
“It contains 186 apartments and the views from every side are fantastic,” said Simon Capp, head of residential sales at British Land.
“We’re super-lucky in that we’ve got low-rise geography locally overlooking Southwark Park to the west and Canada Dock to the east.
“Architecturally, it’s special, designed by Allies And Morrison, who have a strong track record in large-scale towers.
“It has quite an industrial, urban aesthetic – appropriate for Canada Water, which historically has been a hard-working part of town dealing with shipping and cargo.
“It has a warehouse-like feel.”
A show home interior at The Founding
Head inside, though, and while there are some stylistic nods to industry, there’s also plenty of home comforts.
“All the interior architecture has been created by Conran And Partners, which has a really strong track record in luxury hotels and premium residential developments,” said Simon.
“We have two show flats – a one-bed and a two-bed – available for buyers to view at the marketing suite.
“The properties feature oak flooring and Crittall-style windows as well as concrete-style worktops, wooden kitchen cabinets and open-plan design.
“The building predominantly houses one and two-bedroom apartments, with around 15 three-beds on the upper floors with fabulous views and studios also available.”
Kitchens include Samsung appliances as standard
Residents can expect Samsung appliances as standard as well as underfloor heating and comfort cooling in one, two and three-beds.
Properties come with LED downlighters and track spotlights in the coffered ceiling areas of living rooms, sizeable bathrooms and balconies with views across London.
“Even for this first phase, we’ve got a very good level of enlivenment in the form of restaurants, cafes and bars,” said Simon.
“We’ve started work on the transformation of the courtyard, which will be completed late this summer.
“The Founding’s proximity to the station means it’s about a minute to get from the building’s lobby to the Tube and Overground services.
“As a residential offer, this is really one of a kind.”
With more than a decade of work taking place locally, The Founding is also well located to avoid much of the construction that is in the pipeline.
By the end of this year work to renovate Canada Dock will be complete meaning residents can move into The Founding safe in the knowledge that no significant building work on the project will take place on adjacent land.
The tower features three roof terraces
Instead they’ll be able to take advantage of Asif Khan’s bridge over the docks and a new food, drink and cultural destination that will be installed at Surrey Quays as regeneration takes place further to the south and east.
“Canada Water is already a fully established place – a very nice neighbourhood,” said Simon.
“Our Canada Water project is more of a revitalisation – stitching something really exciting into what is already a well-established community.
“We’ve taken what we’ve learnt from other large scale developments such as King’s Cross and putting that into action.
“There will be a great mix of residential and commercial space and, with the dock, we’re working to increase the biodiversity to make this an even better place to live – a fresh and lively district.”
The Founding itself includes three roof terraces for residents to use as well as communal spaces for work and relaxation.
Further perks include three years’ membership to a London cycle hire scheme as well as bike storage for each apartment.
Ideally located for public transport, buyers can be in Canary Wharf or London Bridge within minutes, with the Windrush Line offering rapid access to the likes of Whitechapel, Shoreditch and Dalston.
Simon said: “Given that rents are currently high, people are looking to purchase.
“We’ve been getting interest from a mix of buyers including people who work in Canary Wharf, some of whom don’t want to live there and are looking for something a bit different.”
Studios, one-beds, two-beds and three-beds are all available
key details
Prices at The Founding start at £704,000 for studios and one-beds.
Two-beds start at £986,500, while three-beds are expected to start at around £2million.
Properties come with a circa 500 year lease and an estimated service charge of £6.56 per sq ft.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
Canary Wharf is going through a period of renewal.
Often quite quietly, buildings on the estate are being refurbished to a greater or lesser degree – taking infrastructure that’s anything up to 30-plus years old and giving it a serious rethink to meet the demands of corporate tenants today.
Hard to imagine, perhaps, but large sections of the estate were designed and conceived before the internet was a thing.
While work on the likes of 25 Cabot Square and near neighbour One Cabot Square might have gone largely unnoticed – Credit Suisse employees barely getting to enjoy the renovation before the bank’s distressed sale to UBS meant relocation to the City – other projects have been more obvious.
The scaffolding has been up on Citi’s tower for some time and those arriving in Canary Wharf via the Elizabeth Line will likely have clocked 25 North Colonnade’s transformation into Cargo – complete with Market Hall’s street food traders and bars on its lower floors.
Arguably the most prominent project on the estate so far, has been the complete stripping back and refitting of 30 South Colonnade.
The building now features entrances on two different levels for easier access – seen here in CGI
One of the original Canary Wharf buildings completed in 1991, for years its orange share price ticker greeted commuters arriving on the Jubilee line while it was home to Thompson Reuters.
It was bought by Quadrant Estates and Oaktree Capital Management in 2019 and, with the completion of the project to update it, one of the most recognisable buildings in Canary Wharf is now ready to embark on a fresh adventure.
Renamed YY London after its distinctive cladding, reportedly its top four floors are set to become home to the UK’s most valuable fintech company, Revolut.
The biggest success to come out of Canary Wharf Group’s Level39 will not have landed far from its One Canada Square origins.
But what will its staff and other future tenants be getting from this reinvented chunk of real estate?
“It’s a people-centred design, which will know where occupants are and will respond to them,” said Yohance Harper, partner at Quadrant.
“From the community point of view, the downstairs reception lets you link into a space where you can have coffee, be comfortable and come and sit, away from the office.
The building offers a range of floorplates with various finishes available
“It also gives you planned interaction with other floors and colleagues, which is always great.
“The LED display as you come in is inspired by the Reuters news ticker, but also connects to the water, nature and the weather outside – so visitors will always have a varied experience.
“The systems have all been designed to tie together to make the building a really comfortable environment to work in.
“People are coming back to the office now and they want a Grade A space – this building addresses that really well.”
A tour reveals an attractive package for firms considering a move. Underfoot there are floors tiled in outsize terrazzo, a living tree in the multi-level reception area and access in direct from the Tube exit for the first time.
The building’s curious central void has been filled in housing lifts and lobbies with sustainable walnut flooring and a central staircase that’s been deliberately exposed and lit to encourage people to walk between levels rather than take the lifts.
In fact, there’s a focus on wellness throughout with antibacterial bannisters, UV filtration systems and plenty of cycle storage that comes complete with changing facilities and showers.
Nearly all floors also have outdoor space, with a communal event space and terrace on the roof that will host wellness classes from Third Space once a quarter.
Tristram Gethin of Quadrant Estates
Gone are the small square windows and white marble cladding of the original design.
YY is all about big, bold glazing, plants draping down its exterior and bathing in healthy light inside and out despite being at work.
“We had a year before the lease expired when we bought the building to work out a scheme for it,” said Tristram Gethin, founding partner at Quadrant.
“We brought in architects Buckley Gray Yeoman who have done some stunning refurbishment work and they came up with what you see today.
“We took off the top two floors and added three new ones, relocating the core services into what had been the atrium.
“Outside space was a key requirement and we’ve added that on every level except the 12th floor and also added an incredible terrace on the top.
“Today we have a 415,000sq ft building ranged over 14 levels and we’re extremely proud of the space we’ve created – it’s fantastic.
The top four floors of the building will reportedly house challenger bank Revolut
“It’s a complete change of design and feel for a building in Canary Wharf and it’s been really well received by everyone whether that’s workers in the offices or residents.”
With two restaurants and a cafe also set to take space in the building, those lamenting the loss of All Bar One and The Slug And Lettuce have plenty to look forward to.
While the identity of the future hospitality offerings remains under wraps, there’s recognition that adding to the mix on the estate is all part of what makes it an increasingly attractive proposition for companies.
“In the City, we’ve seen a huge take-up and the supply of Grade A office space is limited,” said Tristram.
“Canary Wharf still offers very good value for money compared with the West End where you’re looking of rents at £120-£200 per sq ft.
“In the City, new Grade A office space is going to have to be £85-£100 and so a new development here makes sense.
Most floors have outdoor space including one with a vast wraparound terrace
“For us, the rents are around £55-£65 – exceptionally good value.
“YY London is slap-bang in the middle of Canary Wharf with the DLR and the Jubilee stations so close – it couldn’t be more central.
“The Elizabeth Line is only a two-minute walk away.
“I’m a great believer in the Wharf. A mixed-use destination is much more attractive to people coming in and that’s what it’s become.
“There are more people here now than ever before and it’s continuing to grow all the time.
“It’s quite a young population living here too, which is also good.
“I think the Wharf has been reinventing itself and many people have not been so aware of that.
“Some remember only the estate as it was 15 or 20 years ago and see a very changed place when they visit now.
“I think Canary Wharf Group is doing a fantastic job promoting the area, but that needs to continue so that people become more aware of what it has to offer.”
One of those attractions is sustainability – something the YY London project has at its heart. It’s an all electric building and benefits from being a refurbishment rather than a completely new venture.
Yohance Harper of Quadrant Estates
Yohance said: “We’ve reused and maintained a lot of the main structure by really going into great detail with the design team.
“Buildings are one of the major contributors to carbon emissions around the world and that’s helped us reduce our impact on the environment.
“Then our tenants’ presence inside will be key.
“YY London responds to that in every way whether it’s the lights in the lifts to the air temperature and lighting in a meeting room that’s been booked.
“All these things help the building to be more efficient in terms of energy.
“We feel all this is a very solid statement in the next step of development in this area and it’s going to be very exciting to see what else it inspires.”
All electric, YY London is targeting an impressive array of sustainability measures including BREEAM Outstanding with reduced water consumption, smart systems, low energy lighting, central heat pumps and a great deal more.
With Canary Wharf Group’s initiative to bring a wealth of biodiversity to Middle Dock in partnership with the Eden Project, right outside YY, there are, perhaps, no greener locations to admire the coming flora and fauna.
But make no mistake, Quadrant and Oaktree’s scheme is certainly not austere or uncomfortable.
From its richly planted roof terrace to the numerous partnerships it intends to enter into with local businesses, life at YY London should be rich, from dry cleaning to getting your bike fixed.
This place has it all.
The top floor of YY London features communal spaces including an outdoor terrace
key details
Space at YY London is available now, with tours available to interested parties.
Floorplates of 30,000sq ft or more are available on levels one through nine at present.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
