North Quay tower at Canary Wharf bulking up
A quick update now looking at how things are shaping up at Canary Wharf’s northern expansion as the first tower gains a second core.
This is the first block to rise named One North Quay which will reach 124 metres. So quite tiddly by local standards.
It’ll be a life sciences block and even if that doesn’t interest you, improved links created by work at North Quay between three stations might.
The North Quay masterplan will allow easier interchange between Canary Wharf Elizabeth line station and both Poplar and West India Quay DLR stations.
Currently Poplar station is a bit marooned from Canary Wharf “proper”.
Development will greatly reduce walking times between the three station, handily circled in red below.
Eventually towers will spread across the area surrounded by a dock on one side and the Limehouse Link approach the other.
Next door
Beside that is Billingsgate market owned by the City of London who propose selling the land.
Expect a continuation of towers heading east towards Blackwall DLR station and three student towers currently underway.
Outline approval for the wider North Quay site was gained in 2022.
Other planned changes alongside forthcoming towers include a north-south pedestrian route from “the end of the Aspen Way Footbridge through Poplar Plaza and the North Quay site to the Canary Wharf Elizabeth line station” alongside “a significant square in the centre of the site (Quay Square)”.
Towers will comprise residential, office, retail and leisure space. The first tower is set to complete in 2027.
Enhanced DLR services should be running past the site with the introduction of new stock.
Curious as to how they will show the 3 stations linking on the Tube map in due course. Eg it would make sense (I think?) to be highlighting Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line to Poplar as a link – to head to London City Airport (almost the equivalent of transferring to an airport people mover). I know you can get Liz line to Woolwich and come back a couple of stops to City Airport, but travelling in one direction would make more sense to most people? The current map layout angles make showing a connection from Canary Wharf crossrail to Poplar a bit awkward?