Operating under the theme of ‘Integrating and/or Repurposing Existing Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s Benefit’, the Council’s first day was spent on a long walking tour of Canary Wharf and Wood Wharf, examining how infrastructure – in all its forms – has underpinned the district’s historical development, and how new types of infrastructure are now being deployed to enable diversification of use in a traditionally office-dominated district.

The tour was led by Robin Oliver and Richard Mayo from Homes England – whose infrastructure funding support has enabled many of the estate’s residential schemes to be developed – alongside Simon Delves of Arup, who is currently Project Director on the ‘Reimagining Canary Wharf’ initiative, a programme seeking to enhance connectivity, biodiversity, and public realm across the estate.

Beginning on the 30th floor of One Canada Square as guests of Canary Wharf Group (CWG), where large-scale models chart the estate’s growth, the group were reminded that infrastructure has always been fundamental to Canary Wharf’s evolution. From the early de-watering initiatives that enabled construction, to major transport interventions such as the Jubilee Line Extension and the opening of the Elizabeth Line, strategic infrastructure investment has consistently been used to unlock and sustain growth.

The walking tour highlighted key moments where infrastructure is now being used to promote new types of activity. At Eden Dock (formerly Middle Dock), new ecological enhancements and a pedestrian bridge improve connectivity within the estate and invite broader public use. At Wood Wharf, members observed how new schools, residential buildings, life sciences hubs and public spaces are supporting the transition towards a truly mixed-use neighbourhood.

The subsequent Roundtable, hosted by Lipton Rogers Developments, explored these themes further, with discussions on the role of broader forms of infrastructure – from community and green infrastructure to digital networks – in enabling sustainable urban growth.

Background

Developed in the late 1980s around the old West India Docks, Canary Wharf emerged as a global financial centre underpinned by major infrastructure investments. These included de-watering of dock basins, new and improved road connections, and major public transport interventions that have continued into the 2020s. 

Today, changing work patterns and evolving urban lifestyles are prompting a need for diversification of use at the Wharf. Infrastructure is again at the forefront – but this time to promote vibrancy, community, and long-term resilience. 

Adapting Infrastructure for a New Era 

The tour brought to life some of the inherent challenges in adapting an office-centric environment for a broader range of uses, especially in a context where much of the traditional public-facing activity – shopping, eating and drinking – is located below grade. 

Although significant investment has been made in transport infrastructure over the decades, the internal connectivity across the estate – especially between Canary Wharf and Wood Wharf – is still evolving.  

While Wood Wharf represents a major step towards a mixed-use model, the success of this transition will depend heavily on how infrastructure is used to support everyday life beyond office hours. This will need to serve the requirements of , for a wider demographic, through the provision of schools, healthcare, playgrounds, high streets and community spaces. 

Another key challenge is the estate’s relationship with its surroundings: physically and economically, Canary Wharf remains distinct from much of Tower Hamlets. The A13 is a hard barrier, limiting movement and reinforcing physical and perceptual separation. Consideration is ongoing on how strategic infrastructure – new crossings, better east-west connections, or and public realm interventions – could eventually help bridge these divides and ensure that future growth on the estate is better integrated with surrounding communities. 

What Next for Canary Wharf: Through the Lens of the Product Council 

The tour provided a rich view of how infrastructure , both historic and newly created, continues to shape Canary Wharf’s evolution. The strategic role of water infrastructure – so central to the area’s original identity as docklands – was a prominent theme. Early de-watering of the docks enabled large-scale construction, while today, the controlled water levels across the basins and small interventions to reclaim land provide opportunities for both environmental management and new public spaces.  

The transformation of Middle (Eden) Dock into an ecologically diverse space reflects a new mode of softer infrastructure integration, evident throughout. The addition of a pedestrian footbridge across the dock, while modest, significantly enhances walkability and invites a broader range of users to explore the estate. 

At the Roundtable, Members debated how repurposing existing infrastructure assets can serve evolving needs. There was speculation about whether underused road infrastructure could be repurposed to better connect the centre of the Wharf with the emerging neighbourhoods on its periphery. Roads originally designed to prioritise private vehicles are now seen as opportunities for pedestrianisation, greening, new cycle networks and meanwhile uses that might help activate the ground plane. Bridges, paths, and public realm investments are not simply enhancements, but critical connectors that enable mixed-use development to succeed. 

There was consensus amongst the Council Members that the future of Canary Wharf is not about transport or utilities, but about integrating social, green, and community infrastructure into the fabric of the district, all essential components of a resilient urban neighbourhood. Case studies from other regeneration areas – including King’s Cross, Battersea and Brent Cross– offered valuable lessons. In each case, infrastructure, whether transport-led or community-focused, has been the lever through which major shifts in urban function and identity have been achieved. 

Conclusion 

The visit to Canary and Wood Wharf underscored the evolving role of infrastructure in shaping urban regeneration. Historically, infrastructure at Canary Wharf served to enable rapid, large-scale commercial development 

Today, however, the definition of infrastructure – and its role – is much broader and more demanding. It is challenging to envision what the future might bring, to predict events such as a pandemic or political shifts that impact land use, but conceiving of infrastructure as part of a phased sequence may help provide the required flexibility. As Canary Wharf seeks to diversify and reposition itself for a new era, infrastructure must be seen through the lens of integration, permeability, and social value. Waterways, green spaces, schools, health facilities, digital networks and pedestrian routes are all forms of infrastructure that together determine the quality and inclusiveness of urban life. 

The Product Council’s exploration highlighted a key truth: successful urban areas will be those that creatively design, reuse, adapt, and connect existing infrastructure – both hard and soft – as well as investing in new forms where necessary.