Canary Wharf has welcomed European eels into its waters as part of efforts to increase its appeal to office workers and prevent more businesses from leaving.
Wading birds, waterfowl, bees and species of plants “rarely seen before in London” have been introduced to the area as part of its new waterside garden project, Eden Dock, which officially launched on Wednesday.
The project is a joint effort between Canary Wharf Group, the district’s owners, and Cornwall’s Eden Project to try to increase biodiversity in the area and improve its appeal to both office workers and residents.
Bird boxes for species such as the black redstart have been installed as part of the project, which also aims to support foraging bats and nesting birds. Fish and other aquatic species will also be able to make their homes in “floating” and “submerged” habitats, including anchored kelp forests.
More than 20 humanoid sculptures made of Ligustrum – a flowering shrub – have been placed around the dock, while boardwalks have also been installed.
European eels and herons have been sighted by officials overseeing the scheme, Canary Wharf Group said.
The new area sits in front of the Jubilee Line underground station and next to YY London, a tower block formerly known as 30 South Colonnade, best known as the headquarters of Thomson Reuters before it relocated last year.
Efforts to increase greenery in the office district come as Canary Wharf seeks to reinvent itself for the post-pandemic era. The developer has been struggling to attract workers to the district after a surge in remote working.
Major office tenants preparing to leave include HSBC, magic circle law firm Clifford Chance and ratings agency Moody’s. Barclays and Morgan Stanley are both downsizing their office space in the area.
Canary Wharf Group received interest from just one prospective tenant for two floors at its flagship One Canada Square office tower that has sat empty since the pandemic, The Telegraph reported last month, despite marketing the space at discounted rental rates.
The exodus has put a financial strain on the district’s owners, with Fitch Ratings last month cutting its credit rating for the group.
Canary Wharf has been seeking to attract more residents to the area as part of efforts to broaden its appeal. It has also set out plans to turn some of its tower blocks into laboratories to attract pharmaceutical companies.
Shobi Khan, chief executive of Canary Wharf Group, said the Eden Dock project “supports the well-being of our community and the environment”.
The developer cited research from Censuswide showing that 73pc of office-goers prefer to work in a location near water and green spaces.
Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project, said: “The attention to life and beauty and the softer edges that characterise the natural worlds will directly influence the happiness and sense of belonging of all who work, live and visit here.”
Mark Carney, the former Bank of England governor who is also chair of Canary Wharf co-owner Brookfield Asset Management, said the project “balances economic development with environmental protection” and would help create a “sustainable urban environment that [is] fit for the future”.
Canary Wharf Group initially partnered with the Eden Project in 2022 to help boost biodiversity in the banking district.
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