Hays Wharf, London

The redevelopment of the old dockyards in London has transformed historic sites into vibrant hubs of commerce and community. Once integral to the city’s maritime trade, areas like Canary Wharf and Katherine Dock have been reimagined into modern destinations blending heritage with innovation. The revitalization preserved elements of the docks’ industrial past while introducing high rise, modern buildings and sleek architecture. This redevelopment has played a crucial role in London’s economic growth since the 1980s.

Hays Wharf in Southwark was one of the first examples of dockland regeneration anywhere and was an early milestone project for WJ, then trading as WJ Associates.  The civil contractor, John Howard, undertook the challenge of draining the near 200 year old dock, preserving the

historic dock walls and integrating the structure into the restored wharf buildings. Dewatering of the dock would be absolutely critical to the success of the project – without controlling groundwater pressure, let alone tidal water entering the drained dock, there was a risk of the base of the dock failing, which could lead to catastrophic collapse. The contractor selected WJ on the basis of our unique approach, careful design and innovative installation of wellpoints from a floating barge. Despite the risks and working in 5 m depth of accumulated silt costs and the dock was successfully drained and the completed project remains one of London’s most popular visitor destinations.