PwC to take One Eden in Canary Wharf — 2026

Key Points

• PwC has chosen Canary Wharf for a new London office, agreeing to take 350,000 sq ft at One Eden (formerly 33 Canada Square).
• The deal follows Barclays’ purchase of its Canary Wharf HQ (One Churchill Place) for £750m and a 999-year leasehold agreement with Canary Wharf Group.
• PwC’s move comes after an extensive site review and in anticipation of a major refurbishment at its Embankment Place headquarters.
• Canary Wharf Group owns 13 of the Docklands’ 32 main office blocks; the development represents continued recovery and renewed corporate confidence in the district.
• Recent major corporate moves into Canary Wharf include JPMorgan’s planned European HQ (12,000 staff), Revolut’s office relocation in 2025, and other potential occupiers for vacated towers (e.g., 8 Canada Square).
• Planning documents for 8 Canada Square (once HSBC leaves) suggest possible conversion to an 180-bedroom hotel; BlackRock has been reported to consider it as an option for a new London HQ.
• Statements included from key figures: Marco Amitrano, senior partner of PwC UK; Shobi Khan, CEO of Canary Wharf Group; and reporting references to The Banker and Tower Hamlets Council filings.

Canary Wharf (East London Times) July 2, 2026 – PwC has confirmed it will take 350,000 sq ft of office space at One Eden in Canary Wharf after an extended search for a new London location, the firm told The Banker and other outlets, signalling a major corporate commitment to the east London financial district.

As reported by Marco Amitrano, senior partner of PwC UK, to The Banker,

“We’re excited by the prospect of expanding our London property footprint to include One Eden at Canary Wharf in 2030.”

PwC said the decision “follows an extensive review of potential sites” and is timed around an “expected major refurbishment” of its existing Embankment Place headquarters, which the firm is planning to renovate.

Observers and Canary Wharf Group executives viewed the PwC announcement as another endorsement of the district’s resurgence after several years in which some major financial tenants relocated to the City of London. Shobi Khan, CEO of Canary Wharf Group, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome PwC to Canary Wharf. The world’s leading businesses choose Canary Wharf for its exceptional connectivity, world-class workplaces and vibrant mixed-use district.”

What does the Barclays deal mean for Canary Wharf’s momentum?

As reported by The Banker (linking to its coverage), Barclays on Tuesday disclosed that it had purchased its Canary Wharf headquarters — One Churchill Place — for £750 million, securing a 999-year leasehold interest from Canary Wharf Group. The bank’s previous lease was set to expire in 2039.

The Barclays transaction was widely reported alongside PwC’s decision and is being interpreted by market watchers as a complementary sign of confidence.

Barclays’s long-term acquisition and PwC’s forthcoming tenancy at One Eden together underline a renewed willingness among major financial and professional services firms to anchor large parts of their London operations in Canary Wharf.

How does the One Eden building fit into the Docklands office market?

One Eden, formerly known as 33 Canada Square, will host PwC’s new space from around 2030. The building is one of the Canary Wharf Group’s core office assets, and PwC’s commitment to a 350,000 sq ft footprint represents one of the larger single-occupier deals announced in the district this cycle.

Canary Wharf Group currently owns 13 of the 32 principal office blocks in the Docklands. The area had previously seen tensions as some financial heavyweights moved to the City — HSBC being a prominent example — but recent deals have suggested a reversal of that trend.

Notable recent moves include JPMorgan’s announcement in November that it will build a new European headquarters in Canary Wharf to accommodate some 12,000 staff, a project said to create almost 8,000 local jobs, and Revolut’s relocation into new Canary Wharf offices in September last year.

What have local planning records revealed about other towers being vacated by banks?

Documents filed with Tower Hamlets Council indicate that 8 Canada Square — the 45-floor tower long occupied by HSBC — is under consideration for an extensive remodelling once HSBC leaves next year.

The Qatar Investment Authority, which owns 8 Canada Square, is exploring options that include converting the skyscraper into an 180-bedroom hotel.

Separately, industry reports have suggested that BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has shortlisted the building as one option for its potential new London headquarters.

Those filings show the owners and planners are actively considering mixed commercial uses for the Docklands’ large floorplates, balancing demand for traditional office space with hospitality and alternative corporate uses.

Who said what: quotes, attribution and detail from primary sources

• As reported by Marco Amitrano of The Banker, PwC described the move as the result of a thorough site review and an expansion of its London footprint timed with refurbishment plans at Embankment Place. Amitrano’s comments framed the decision as strategic and long-term.
• As reported by Canary Wharf Group and quoted in press releases and interviews, Shobi Khan, CEO of Canary Wharf Group, welcomed PwC and cited the district’s connectivity and mixed-use attractions as reasons firms choose the location.
• Barclays’ purchase of One Churchill Place and its 999-year leasehold arrangement were published by The Banker in its coverage of the transaction.

What are the broader market implications for Canary Wharf and London’s office market?

Canary Wharf’s recent run of corporate commitments suggests a rebalancing within London’s office geography. After several high-profile departures to the City, the Wharf has made a concerted push to attract and retain major tenants through redevelopment, refurbishments and by marketing its transport connections and amenity-rich district.

Analysts say large-scale transactions like Barclays’ purchase and PwC’s pre-commitment to One Eden are important because they reduce vacancy risk and encourage other firms to consider the area.

The decision by PwC, a global “big four” accountancy firm, to locate a major London office there could influence peer professional services firms when sizing strategic office footprints and considering staff hybrid-working needs versus centralised, large-format workplaces.

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What will PwC’s occupancy timeline and practical arrangements look like?

PwC has indicated the space at One Eden will be part of its London estate from 2030. The firm’s public comments emphasise that the move complements, not immediately replaces, its current Embankment Place headquarters, which is slated for a significant refurbishment.

Details on the precise lease length, fit-out responsibilities and subletting plans have not been disclosed in PwC’s public statements.

Canary Wharf Group’s role as landlord for multiple Canary Wharf buildings places it in a position to coordinate large-scale tenant placements and to market the district to other potential occupiers, including international financial institutions and growing tech and fintech firms.

Are there potential risks or constraints to this apparent revival?

While recent deals point to momentum, structural challenges persist in the central London office market. These include hybrid working patterns adopted by many large employers since the pandemic, the need for high-quality, energy-efficient office refurbishments to meet sustainability standards and competition from the City’s revitalised office offerings.

Additionally, major redevelopment plans — such as the potential conversion of 8 Canada Square into a hotel — reveal that owners are weighing alternatives to traditional office usage, signalling both flexibility and uncertainty about future demand.

What exactly has been proposed for 8 Canada Square and why does it matter?

Planning filings seen by Tower Hamlets Council show proposals for remodelling 8 Canada Square, the 45-floor skyscraper long associated with HSBC. One option being explored is conversion into an 180-bedroom hotel; other proposals reportedly include interest from corporate occupiers such as BlackRock considering the building for new headquarters space.

These plans matter because they demonstrate how owners are reimagining large-floorplate towers to match evolving market needs — whether hospitality, asset management HQs or modernised office uses.

Background

Canary Wharf emerged in the late 1980s and 1990s as a purpose-built financial district on the Isle of Dogs, east of the traditional City of London. Over decades it attracted global banks, professional services firms and media companies, establishing a cluster of tall, modern office towers.

Following the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent corporate relocations, and more recently during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the district experienced periods of elevated vacancies as firms reconsidered space needs and some relocated to the City of London or adopted hybrid working models.

In response, Canary Wharf Group invested in placemaking, transport connectivity and refurbishment projects, while courting major tenants with incentives and long-term leasing proposals.

The arrival or planned arrival of large employers — from JPMorgan’s major European HQ project to Revolut’s move and now PwC’s commitment — indicates that these strategies have begun to yield returns and that the Wharf is again being seen as an attractive location for large-scale professional and financial services operations.

Prediction: how this development can affect local businesses, employees and the wider East London community

• Local businesses and services: The PwC commitment, together with Barclays’ purchase and JPMorgan’s expansion plans, is likely to sustain and potentially increase footfall in Canary Wharf. Restaurants, retail outlets, leisure facilities and service providers in and near the district could see stronger daytime trade as large numbers of staff return to offices for in-person collaboration. This should support local employment in hospitality and retail sectors.
• Commercial real estate market: Large, anchor occupiers reduce vacancy risk and can stabilise rents for high-quality office space, incentivising further refurbishment projects. Landlords may prioritise modern, sustainable workplaces to attract comparable tenants, accelerating upgrades across the Docklands office stock.
• Employment and recruitment: The concentration of large employers planning to base thousands of staff in Canary Wharf may increase local job opportunities, particularly in professional services, finance, technology and building trades. Projects like JPMorgan’s facility, which forecasts the creation of thousands of jobs, combined with PwC’s large tenancy, could attract talent and support secondary businesses such as recruitment agencies and training providers.
• Transport and infrastructure: Higher sustained occupancy could reinforce demand for public transport services and local infrastructure, including Crossrail/Elizabeth Line usage, Docklands Light Railway and bus networks. This may prompt additional investment or operational adjustments to manage commuting patterns.
• Urban planning and mixed-use balance: The exploration of non-office uses for towers such as 8 Canada Square (hotel conversion, alternative HQ options) signals a continuing shift toward mixed-use urban planning. If conversions proceed, residents and visitors might see a more diverse local offer but also face potential construction impacts and changing local planning priorities.