Canning Town is in the process of getting 10,000 new homes, two new town centres and Crossrail meaning the appeal to move here for young professionals is growing rapidly. An investment of approximately £3.7 billion is being used to regenerate the area.

New tower blocks look down on modest post-war council homes in what is a strongly working-class area, once home to thousands of dock workers.

The neighbourhood is better known for its boxers than its brain-power, with a new public square under the A13 flyover commemorating local hero Terry Spinks who won the flyweight gold medal at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956.

Regeneration has brought new homes for locals and attracted professional newcomers who see Canning Town as a handy and still relatively affordable place to live, while building careers minutes away in Canary Wharf.

Property scene

People will find a mix of mainly post-war council houses and low-rise flats, pockets of early Victorian terraces and many new-build flats, including tower blocks. Britannia Village on the southern side of Royal Victoria Dock is a low-rise Nineties scheme of flats and houses.

The two new town centres are placed strategically on both side of the A13 flyover.

This has delivered hundreds of new homes including the landmark Vermilion tower, a new library and community centre and two new public squares.

The £600 million Hallsville Quarter on the south side of the A13 is the focus of the second town centre.

Lifestyle

A space has been created in the new development in Barking Road for the once-vibrant Rathbone Market.

There are cafés and restaurants at Western Gateway opposite Royal Victoria Dock and leading to ExCeL London exhibition and convention centre.

Good Hotel is a newcomer to Royal Victoria Dock, a floating hotel serving food to non-residents which operates as a social enterprise, training young people for the hospitality industry.

Open space

Canning Town has two nature reserves: Bow Creek in Bidder Street and East India Dock Basin in Orchard Place.

Local parks include Canning Town Recreation Ground in Prince Regent Lane, which has a floodlit multi-games court, tennis courts and a wildflower meadow and Keir Hardie Recreation Ground in Tarling Road, which has a multi-use games area and a children’s play area.

Ashburton Wood in Freemasons Road is a small patch of wild woodland with paths cut through it. A beach is created in summer at the western end of Royal Victoria Dock.

Schools

Primary schools within close proximity include St Luke’s CofE, Hallsville and St Helen’s RC. Keir Hardie Primary School, in a new building in Robertson Road, is also popular and gets a “good” rating from the education watchdog. Comprehensive schools include Manor Academy, School 21 and Bow School.

Travel

Canning Town station is on the Jubilee line two stops from Canary Wharf and it is also on the DLR. Other local DLR stations include Royal Victoria and Custom House.

For the motorist, the A13 can be easily access from Canning Town.

Postcode

Canning Town falls under the E16 postcode is part of Newham council.