Surrey Quays: A modern and pleasant metropolis by the Docklands

Surrey Quays is an area which has a lot going for it. It is a residential centre based in Rotherhithe, South-East London, in the borough of Southwark.

It covers the Rotherhithe peninsula from Canada Water to South Dock. Surrey Quays has seen many changes over the years and redevelopment projects have helped to turn it into a thriving metropolis popular among investors, businesses and the public alike.

Currently, Southwark Council is leading the regeneration programme along with BL Canada Quays Ltd; the aim of which is to deliver a brand new town centre for Rotherhithe that is more attractive to shoppers and professionals.

The council says that its redevelopment programme is set to bring 2,700 new homes to the area, of which 35 per cent will be affordable. The initiative will also see new retail and office spaces being built in the area, leisure facilities with a new library and the creation of a new civic square at the heart of Canada Water.

But that is not the only redevelopment programme to be taking place in Surrey Quays. In Canada Water, the council has announced plans to transform the historic London Docklands location into a distinctive waterside centre.

The plans will see 35,000 sq m of additional retail space built and generate 2000 new jobs.

This is just the latest in a series of developments to take place in the area. In the early 1980s and 1990s, some 5,500 new homes were built along with the shopping centre and the Harmsworth Quays print works.

In recent times, 900 homes were constructed and 236 of those were affordable. 
The programme also included a state-of-the-art Library with over 40,000 books, learning spaces, meeting rooms and a theatre. In addition, a new plaza was designed to accommodate a street market and other events. 

These changes mainly took place in 2011 and will be upgraded in the next wave of the initiative.

 

The latest developments are part of the second phase of that programme. Southwark Council says that its aim is to improve the character of the area and boost transport access.

There is also a heavy focus on improving the retail space in Surrey Quays. Figures published by the council reveal that there are 1,200 business based in the Rotherhithe area. Ninety-seven of these are small businesses and around half are engaged in business related activities such as real estate, advertising and IT.

Additionally, in the Rotherhithe ward, around 40 per cent of people work in the retail/wholesale sector. The number of people claiming benefits in Surrey Quays is also lower than the average for Southwark.

Lifestyle

One of the most important aspects of living in Surrey Quays is its lifestyle. It is a very pleasant district to live in and is situated by the Docklands, which is lovely to walk around during the warmer weather.

There are also a number of attractions and leisure facilities to get your teeth into. For example, in Canada Water there is a very large cinema complex. There are also excellent transport links to Central London.

Some of the attractions in Surrey Quays include the Lavender Pond Nature Reserve. It is protected by the local authority which allows the native wetland creatures and plants - which have flourished on the land for many hundreds of years - a place to continue living. 

It is open to the public and is a popular attraction amongst nature lovers. You have also got the Rotherhithe Heritage Centre, which offers an insight into the fascinating history and ecology of the area.

If you like green spaces, then there is no shortage of parks and landscapes in Surrey Quays. One of the most notable is Southwark Park.

The park is a large and beautiful area of Rotherhithe. It is enclosed in many mature trees and hedges, away from busy roads and noise.

Although the modernisation works in Surrey Quays and associated areas are not yet complete, the district has already been transformed into a pleasant and progressive district, which is rich in cultural history, diversity and heritage.

Published 21st March, 2014

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