UK city landmark to get huge new transformation - £74m project
Bristol's popular floating harbour has received a green light for a massive refurb worth millions of pounds. Canons Wharf, a waterfront estate in Bristol city centre and former home of Lloyds Bank, will be transformed into a multi-purpose campus following the approval of a £74million loan. According to developers, the 197,000 sq ft estate will become "Bristol's leading office, dining and event spaces."
Originally a marshland sitting below Bristol Cathedral, a plot of land around Canons Wharf was filled and transformed into Harbourside warehouses as part of the industrial revolution in Bristol. The area became one of the busiest parts of Bristol docks in the early 20th century. These prominent warehouses became the backdrop to some of the city's most prestigious moments, from hot air balloon displays to power-boat racing on the Harbourside, the project's website states. What's known today as Canons House was built between 1988 and 1991 as a regional headquarters for Lloyds Bank, following the bank's decision to relocate its retail banking functions to a single site outside of London.
The buildings were sold in late 2024 to commercial owners, Kinrise, who sought permission from the council to reimagine this Grade II listed site, consisting of circular office buildings around a courtyard. Under the plan, 165,000 sq ft of Canons Wharf's existing buildings will become versatile office spaces, dotted across two distinct sites, both offering impressive harbourside views.
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Canons Wharf has played a central role in the city's commercial life, becoming a focal point for business and helping secure Bristol's position in the UK's Big 6 Regional Office Cities ranking, alongside Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh.
The new office spaces will be designed to support the needs of today's workforce, featuring landscaped coffee hubs, vibrant social spaces, and waterfront restaurants with harbour views. The development will also include premium professional amenities such as podcast studios and a 200-seat auditorium, alongside wellness-focused areas including saunas, a high-performance gym, and dedicated personal training and group fitness studios, The Sun reports.
The cherry on top of the new office spaces will be the rooftop boardroom and events space, offering a panoramic view of Bristol from above.
The remaining 18,000 sq ft of this space will be transformed into a premium leisure facility, including food and beverage opportunities.
These new spaces will overlook the Amphitheatre, a waterside public space that hosts events.
The 4.6 acres of prime waterfront space is at the heart of Bristol's Harbourside community, just walking distance from Temple Meads Station and a variety of transport links.
The redevelopment of Canons Wharf is expected to begin this summer, with the completion of the project due by late 2027.