Surrey Quays Shopping Centre


Surrey Quays Shopping & Leisure is located in Rotherhithe, London. It is currently owned by British Land.
The retail destination opened in July 1988 following years of development by the London Docklands Development Corporation in the London Docklands and surrounding areas. Surrey Quays Shopping has over 40 stores including Tesco, 1,300 parking spaces and a food court.
Improvements in the local transport links and rise in local housing developments in recent years have given local consumers easier access to the retail area.
British Land plan to redevelop it over the next few years, adding retail space, extensions and a number of new dwellings.

History

The site on which the destination is built was originally a dock. However, as the majority of Surrey Docks ship yards closed in the early 1970s, due to a general decline, the land was left abandoned and the docks filled in. It was not until the London Docklands Development Corporation began to redevelop the area that the land found a new lease of life. See Surrey Commercial Docks
Construction of Surrey Quays Shopping began in late 1985, and was completed in time for a July 1988 opening. At the same time new housing was being constructed in the surrounding area which ensured a steady influx of customers.
The area is still referred to as Surrey Docks by many of the local residents and the old name can still be seen on a few road signs in the area.
In 1998 a leisure park was opened adjacent to the area, facilities include an Odeon Cinema, Hollywood Bowl, and a number of restaurants.

Present day

Surrey Quays Shopping has not changed much from its original construction. An extension was added to the Tesco store in 2008, and a fountain which used to lie in the main concourse of the area featuring a Dolphin sculpture by David Backhouse was removed in the early 2000s to make way for a new seating and sale area.

Transport

Surrey Quays Shopping is in close proximity to Canada Water Underground station which serves the Jubilee line and London Overground's East London Line. Canada Water also has a bus station which allows access to a number of London bus routes. It has its own bus stops and most local bus routes stop here either before or after serving Canada Water.
Surrey Quays Station is also close by which serves London Overground's East London Line.
The shopping area has a mini cab rank and a large car park.

Redevelopment

In 2013, British Land bought out Tesco's 50% stake in Surrey Quays.
British Land in a joint venture with Tesco plans to redevelop it over the next few years. The plan is to have a 100,000 sq ft extension built, while the existing infrastructure will undergo a major refurbishment. The surrounding area and its facade will also be significantly improved, including new public spaces, easy routes to transport links and larger parking areas. The nearby leisure park will also be included in these works as will the shop fronts along the river featuring the Decathlon stores.
Commencement of these works is due to start in the near future. Planning permission has been granted by Southwark Council for the initial phase with further plans currently being reviewed.