Canary Wharf Group and Kadans appoint leasing agents for Europe’s largest health and life sciences building

Canary Wharf Group (“CWG”) and Kadans Science Partner (“Kadans”) have appointed real estate advisory firms Cushman & Wakefield and JLL as leasing agents for the 800,000 sq ft commercial laboratory building they intend to develop to create a world leading health and life sciences cluster at Canary Wharf.

The 23-storey building will be delivered in 2026 and will be the largest commercial wet lab enabled life science building in Europe. Importantly, it will be a laboratory building at its core, with full flexibility allowing lab space on all floors

The 3.3 hectare North Quay site is located on the doorstep of Canary Wharf’s new Elizabeth Line station, providing excellent connectivity to central London and Heathrow. Designed by KPF, the new building will be developed to the highest sustainability and technological standards. The project will leverage Kadans’ experience of curating multi-let lab projects with vibrant communities in order to create a new campus under one roof, housing SME’s and academics as well as global healthcare and pharmaceutical companies.

Richard Archer, Managing Director, Canary Wharf Group, said: “The appointment of Cushman & Wakefield and JLL is a reflection of our commitment to assembling a best-in-class team to deliver the biggest and most innovative life sciences development in Europe. We already have a significant amount of interest from potential occupiers in relation to our plans and will aim to start leasing space concurrent with construction. At the same time, we will also look to build on the momentum of the recent leasing to Genomics England at One Canada Square, as we establish a major life science ecosystem Canary Wharf.”

James Sheppard Managing Director UK & Ireland at Kadans Science Partner added: “Both Cushman & Wakefield and JLL have first class specialist life science teams, who will bring exceptional expertise and experience that is highly complementary of our own intrinsic insight into the requirements and modus operandi of the life science and healthcare industry. We are targeting an official marketing launch of the new development at North Quay early next year.

Paddy Shipp, Head of UK Life Sciences Agency at JLL said: “London is an extremely exciting market for the UK’s life science sector where we are seeing significant occupational demand for best in class lab space in London. This landmark development will be truly unique and JLL are thrilled to be working with the joint venture in bringing it forward in the heart of East London’s knowledge cluster.”

Jamie Renison, Head of Life Sciences Agency UK at Cushman & Wakefield, added: “This pioneering new development at North Quay will have a transformational effect on the life sciences sector in London, further enhancing the UK’s status as a centre for research, innovation and discovery. We are excited to be helping Canary Wharf Group and Kadans create the environment and ecosystem in which companies have everything they need to flourish and grow, using the strength and connectivity of our global life sciences platform to do so.”

Canary Wharf is already home to a number of leading healthcare and life sciences-focused organisations, including: Genomics England, Barts Health NHS Trust, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Medical Defence Union, General Pharmaceutical Council and NHS Transformation.