HSBC Canary Wharf tower set for £1bn mixed-use transformation

Canary Wharf Group and the Qatar Investment Authority have submitted planning proposals to transform the 45-storey HSBC headquarters at 8 Canada Square into a mixed-use destination. The project, designed by architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), is expected to cost between £800 million and £1 billion.

The retrofit-led scheme aims to repurpose the 24-year-old, 200-metre-tall tower by combining flexible commercial workspace with hospitality and leisure facilities. Key features include an 181-room hotel and a new experiential leisure destination called ‘The Cloud’ located on the upper levels. To create this space, sections of the existing floorplates will be removed to introduce landscaped terraces and a rooftop venue offering 360-degree views of London.

At ground level, the redevelopment intends to improve connectivity by creating a new north-south pedestrian route and providing better access between the Elizabeth Line station and Canada Square Park. The design also focuses on improving building performance and biodiversity while offering approximately 97,600 square metres of subdivisible office space to attract a diverse range of occupiers.