Riverside South (Canary Wharf)

Infobox Skyscraper


building_name=Riverside South
status= Under Construction
previous_building=
year_built=
surpassed_by_building=
year_highest=
year_end=
location=Canary Wharf, London, England
roof= convert|236|m|ft|0
antenna_spire=
height_stories= 45 and 37
construction_period=
under construction=
floor_area= 279,000 m² (3,000,000sq ft)
architect= Richard Rogers
contractor=
emporis_id=

Riverside South is a major office development under construction in Canary Wharf, London.

Planning

The development is being planned by Canary Wharf Group, as part of the expansion of their estate. It will be located on the western side of the Isle of Dogs, immediately south of Westferry Circus on the edge of the River Thames. This is one of the few sites left in the Docklands area which has been identified as suitable for the construction of skyscrapers.

The original proposal consisted of two buildings of convert|214|m|ft|0 and convert|189|m|ft|0, designed by Sir Richard Rogers. These were approved in the summer of 2004.

In April 2007, Canary Wharf Group submitted a new planning application to increase the size of the scheme by 36,420 m² to 327,255 m². The application confirmed work was underway on site. Tower 1 of the scheme was increased from convert|214|m|ft|0 to convert|235.64|m|ft|0, while Tower 2 was reduced from convert|189|m|ft|0 to convert|185.84|m|ft|0. The middle building adjoining the towers was increased from convert|47|m|ft|0 to convert|72|m|ft|0. [cite web | url=http://194.201.98.213/WAM/showCaseFile.do;jsessionid=3634E61F4CF3E83903F0CA83E13CE802?action=show&appType=Planning&appNumber=PA/07/935 | title=Tower Hamlets Council: updated planning application | date=2007-03-30] The new design was granted planning permission by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on 21 June 2007.

This height increase means the taller of the two could become the tallest building in the UK, exceeding One Canada Square by a metre (on an AGL basis; One Canada Square is higher AOD, so will still appear taller on the skyline). This is unless Bishopsgate Tower, Heron Tower or Shard London Bridge are built first. The combined development will have the longest river frontage of any building in London, and in terms of floorspace will be among the largest offices in Europe.

Construction

In early 2007, JPMorgan considered the development as an option for their new city headquarters, which would involve relocating from their various City of London offices. The company initially decided to remain in the City, but in August 2008 the company announced that it had signed an agreement to move to Riverside South. [cite web|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=a.938AxCO1mU&refer=uk | title=Bloomberg: JPMorgan to Move European Head Office to Canary Wharf | date=2008-08-01]

As of July 2007, site preparation is well underway which will serve to reduce the completion time for the development by approximately 18 months. Construction will commence as and when market conditions allow. In March 2008 the developer, Songbird Estates, announced that it had abandoned all speculative projects, meaning that Riverside South would not have moved beyond the preparation stage [cite web|url= http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23466010-details/Songbird+warning+as+Docklands+values+fall/article.do | title=thisislondon.co.uk: Songbird warning as Docklands values fall | date=2008-03-07] , but the agreement with JPMorgan should mean that construction will go ahead.

As of August 2008, piling has commenced at the site and the tower should be built by 2012

A number of other towers are being planned in the area. These include Heron Quays West and North Quay.

ee also

* Canary Wharf
* One Canada Square
* Heron Quays West
* Isle of Dogs
* North Quay
* Shard London Bridge
* Tall buildings in London

External links

* [http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=53 Riverside South on Skyscrapernews.com]

References