Chip off the old block: Canary Wharf landmark to have dramatic makeover

Canary Wharf Group has unveiled plans to remove large chunks from the HSBC tower as part of a revamp of the 45-storey office block when the bank leaves in 2027, in a reflection of the changing face of the east London financial district after the pandemic.

- Jack Simpson & Alex Lawson

The property company said it would carve out sections of the facade to create terraces as part of plans to transform the block into a mixed-use building including leisure facilities and a public viewing gallery.

Developers behind the Canary Wharf district are attempting to revamp its image as the rise in working from home cuts office demand and reshapes when the busiest times are in the Docklands area.

Canary Wharf Group (CWG), which manages the building on behalf of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), said it would be the largest conversion of an office tower into a mixed-use building. The revamp, proposed by the US architect Kohn Pedersen Fox, is expected to be finished by about 2030. QIA acquired the property from the National Pension Service of South Korea in 2014 for £1.1bn.

The building, known officially as 8 Canada Square, was completed in 2002 and has been the headquarters of HSBC ever since. However, last year the bank announced plans to relocate before its existing lease expired in early 2027.