Canary Wharf Group and Kadans Science Partner have received approval from Tower Hamlets Council to move forward with their joint venture development North Quay in Canary Wharf.

The 23-storey 823,000 sq ft tower will revolutionise the development of life sciences laboratories and workspaces, creating a pioneering vertical campus, which is set to become Europe's largest and most technologically advanced life sciences facility. The site, located adjacent to the Crossrail Station and the new Elizabeth Line at Canary Wharf, provides a strategic location for the project.

The building, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, is well underway and expected to be completed in 2027. It will serve as a world-leading centre for health and life sciences, attracting innovation and advancements in the field.

To uphold sustainable practices, the development incorporates a low-carbon strategy, with features like highly insulated and airtight building fabric, an optimized façade, energy-efficient MEP systems, and renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic panels.

Energy efficiency is prioritized in the design, with the adoption of the industry-leading NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) UK Design for Performance approach to optimize operational energy use.

Compared to conventional commercial buildings or lab-enabled offices, the vertical campus offers enhanced features such as fresh air, power, data, and ceiling heights, surpassing the capabilities of traditional commercial lab buildings.

This milestone achievement for the North Quay development reflects the Canary Wharf Group's and Kadans' dedication to fostering the growth of the health and life sciences community in Canary Wharf. The recent completion of a wet lab innovation and flexible workspace centre at 20 Water Street is a testament to their efforts, providing 40,000 sq ft of fully fitted, flexible, wet-labs specifically designed to support early-stage life science companies in collaborating and innovating. The office accommodations in the building are also attracting considerable interest from life sciences companies, with new lease announcements expected soon.

Canary Wharf already has a thriving community of life sciences and healthcare organisations, including Genomics England, Barts Health NHS Trust, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Medical Defence Union, General Pharmaceutical Council, and NHS Transformation. Level39, Canary Wharf's renowned tech hub, houses a vibrant community of 180 start-up and scale-up companies, including a growing number of businesses focused on life sciences.

Shobi Khan, CEO of Canary Wharf Group, commented: “This is a significant milestone in our development of a world-class life sciences hub at Canary Wharf. While the North Quay development is an integral focal point, we have been working in tandem to nurture and grow our current life sciences community and we have built real momentum this year through leasing success and working with our partners Kadans to develop bespoke and innovative new facilities. The next chapter in the evolution of Canary Wharf is well underway with the next generation of health and life science companies set to become a significant presence in our sustainable, mixed-use environment.”

Michel Leemhuis, CEO of Kadans Science Partner, said: “In addition to its scale, location and technology, this building sets a new benchmark in its field for sustainability, capitalizing on our previous experience and lessons learned, while engaging industry working groups to ensuring we are delivering a facility tailor-made to industry requirements. With planning consent secured, we are looking forward to continuing the extraordinary progress we are making with the Canary Wharf Group.”