HSBC Tower in Canary Wharf to become offices, hotel and public rooftop by 2028
Plans submitted by Canary Wharf Group and Qatar Investment Authority include a new walkway to the Elizabeth line
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The 45-storey HSBC Tower in Canary Wharf will be transformed into a mixed-use development under plans submitted by Canary Wharf Group and the Qatar Investment Authority. The project includes converting the building into offices, a hotel and a publicly accessible rooftop area called The Cloud. Work is expected to start in 2028, subject to approval.
HSBC will vacate the tower in 2027, relocating to a smaller office in the City of London. The developer plans to address issues with solar gain and overheating by breaking the building into zones and adding staggered terraces. The original curved corners, designed to maximise views, will be modified as part of the redesign.
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New walkway to ease station congestion
A key feature of the plans is a new walkway through the base of the tower. This will connect the Elizabeth line station directly to the Canary Wharf estate, bypassing the current escalators from the ticket hall. Canary Wharf Group said the change could reduce congestion at the station, as reported by ianVisits.
The walkway will use a set of escalators that are currently underused. The developer expects the new route to improve pedestrian flow between the station and the surrounding area, which includes shops, offices and residential buildings.
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Public access to The Cloud
The top two floors of the tower will be converted into The Cloud, a publicly accessible space for events. The developer has suggested it could include a restaurant or bars, though it is unlikely to be open to the public at all times. Instead, Canary Wharf Group said it may hold public open days or host private events, as reported by ianVisits.
The architects for the project, Kohn Pederson Fox, have designed the space to accommodate a range of uses. The name The Cloud refers to the elevated location, though the developer has not confirmed whether the views will be consistently visible.
What happens next
The plans were submitted by Canary Wharf Group and the Qatar Investment Authority. Tower Hamlets Council will now review the application. If approved, construction is scheduled to begin in 2028. The developer has not yet announced a new name for the building, though it has been informally referred to as the Swiss Cheese due to the proposed structural modifications.
Questions this report answers
+What will happen to the HSBC Tower in Canary Wharf?
The HSBC Tower will be converted into a mixed-use development with offices, a hotel and a publicly accessible rooftop area called The Cloud. The plans were submitted by Canary Wharf Group and Qatar Investment Authority, with work expected to start in 2028 if approved.
+How will the new walkway affect Elizabeth line passengers?
A new walkway will be created through the base of the tower, connecting the Elizabeth line station directly to the Canary Wharf estate. This is expected to reduce congestion on the existing escalators from the ticket hall, improving pedestrian flow.
+Will the public be able to visit the rooftop area?
The top two floors, called The Cloud, will be used for events and may include a restaurant or bars. Public access is likely to be restricted to specific occasions, such as open days, rather than being open at all times.
+When will construction start on the HSBC Tower redevelopment?
Construction is expected to start in 2028, subject to approval by Tower Hamlets Council. The plans were submitted by Canary Wharf Group and Qatar Investment Authority, with HSBC vacating the building in 2027.
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