London workers get taste for Canary Wharf living

Canary Wharf Group's plans for high-rise living in London's transformed financial centre mark a new departure for it and workers in Britain's capital who have until now preferred to live at a distance from their offices.

Having revamped what were derelict docks into a gleaming collection of skyscrapers, the group is confident it can persuade bankers and lawyers to call the area on London's eastern flank their home as well as their place of work.

Songbird Estates, which owns 69 per cent of Canary Wharf Group, is one of the frontrunners in the race to capitalise on an expected explosion in London's population with a plan for lux- ury high-rise apartments that could double the size of the original wharf development estate.

"People are working differently now. They might come in and work until small hours in the morning and want to be able to get home," said Nick Parr, a partner at Knight Frank.

He added that modern living now had a "Southeast Asian influence - where everything goes on 24 hours a day and is all on your doorstep when you need it".

Canary Wharf Group's first foray into residential development has already attracted would-be buyers to it.