Tower Hamlets Development Committee has resolved to grant planning consent to Canary Wharf for a 3 million sq. ft gross commercial office and retail development at Riverside South. This consent is subject to the agreement of the Mayor of London and the Government Office for London.

The Riverside South scheme is the highest quality site remaining along the River Thames. Designed by the Richard Rogers Partnership, it comprises two office towers - one to the north of the site and one to the south. The towers are respectively 194 and 220 metres above Ordnance Datum, with 28 and 34 office floors.

The towers will be linked by a lower building in the centre of the site, which has three enhanced height floors to facilitate trading operations and other special tenant requirements.

There will also be a significant retail presence, with shops and restaurants lining the entire riverside frontage at the lower ground level, opening on to a public pedestrian walkway. This will be the longest length of retail/leisure facilities anywhere along the river in London.

The planning application was granted subject to a Section 106 agreement totalling £20m. This amount is to include a new community fund, a small park, public space and transport improvements among other benefits to local people, details of which are subject to further discussion with the council.

George Iacobescu, Chief Executive, Canary Wharf Group, said:

‘This landmark decision marks the beginning of the next generation of buildings for Canary Wharf and we are looking forward to continuing our work with Lord Rogers and his team in developing these towers at this stunning riverside location. We also appreciate the huge efforts of both the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Canary Wharf teams over the last 18 months to achieve this result.’

Previous tower buildings at Canary Wharf were approved under the Enterprise Zone Scheme administered by the former London Docklands Development Corporation. This is the first full planning application from Canary Wharf for tower buildings and marks a new milestone as the estate matures.

The south tower will be the second highest in the Canary Wharf estate, after One Canada Square. Canary Wharf will look for a significant pre-let before construction of the development begins.