Canary Wharf could get another huge skyscraper and locals fear students will flood Tesco

Canary Wharf residents are fuming over plans to build a huge student halls tower, arguing that it would overwhelm local shops and services. The block planned for East London would be big enough to house over 1,000 students if approved.

One local complained students in the area would flood the local Tesco, making life more difficult for residents already living in the neighbourhood. The massive 47-storey block would be the latest addition to the crowded skyline of the Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs, one of the most densely-populated places in the UK.

Many more skyscrapers are planned for the East London neighbourhood, and the latest unveiled would see 1,068 student flats built. The planned site sits between Marsh Wall – a street full of enormous tower blocks – and Cuba Street, which has a number of local shops.

The plan to bring so many students to the area sparked a backlash from residents, who argued that the plans would cause more harm than good to the area.

READ MORE: The London universities which facing having ‘poor quality courses’ axed due to low graduation rates

The block would offer a cafe for students and even a roof garden on the 47th floor

Canary Wharf Student Tower

Marsh Wall already has one of the highest concentrations of high-rise blocks in the country

One resident reacted sarcastically to the news by saying: “Should be fun – a thousand students queuing up at the little Tesco on Cuba Street! Even just five per cent of them would cause chaos.” Another local added: “More luxury student accommodation purchased by overseas money to further propagate the menace of external manipulation of the housing market in the city. All within an area desperately short of sufficient services to support any new development, and nowhere near any major universities.”

Another asked: “Wouldn’t it be better to build some housing – rather than student housing – as there aren’t really any Universities in that specific area?” One resident said: “They have made no consideration for disabled students who need a car to get around, and they also want to drag all their rubbish bins on to Cuba Street three times a week.”

0 GettyImages 639998364

Do you want to stay up to date with the latest news, views, features and opinion from across the city?

MyLondon’s brilliant newsletter The 12 is absolutely jam packed with all the latest to keep you keep you entertained, informed and uplifted.

You’ll get 12 stories straight to your inbox at around 12pm. It’s the perfect lunchtime read.

And what’s more – it’s FREE!

The MyLondon team tells London stories for Londoners. Our journalists cover all the news you need – from City Hall to your local streets, so you’ll never miss a moment.

Don’t skip a beat and sign up to The 12 newsletter here.

The planned tower is being put forward by Tide Construction and EPR Architects to Tower Hamlets Council. The firms said in their plans for the student block: “We can transform this area into a strategic access node providing far better permeability between the low scale residential neighbourhood to the south of Marsh Wall and the high rise commercial district to the north.

“Working with the same landscape designer across both sites will ensure better north-south permeability and produce an enhanced public realm including improved amenity space for the local community.”

Tide Construction was contacted for further comment.

Read More
Read More

https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/canary-wharf-could-another-huge-23103721

Recommended For You