​Printworks officially set to be shuttered and renovated into offices

After much debate and calls for the London venue to be saved, Printworks is set to close down for good after Southwark Council approved plans for its renovation.

News of its potential regeneration first came in October last year detailing plans for the club to be developed into a block of offices. Property developer British Land submitted a proposal to Southwark Council in the same month.

Since then, fans of the iconic 6,000-capacity venue rallied for its rescue with over 10,000 signatures on a change.org petition calling for plans to be scrapped.

“During a time where more people are working from home than ever before, the last thing that is needed is more office space,” argued the petition’s author, Will Gooddy.

“Reports have revealed London has lost almost a quarter of its nightclubs since the pandemic started. Industry bosses fear London risks losing its reputation as one of the world’s premier clubbing capitals.”

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Despite the saddening news, Broadwick Live - the events management company who operate the venue as Printworks - already knew that this plan was underway, and have been working alongside British Land for some five years since the club first opened.

"We continue to work in partnership with British Land as part of the regeneration of Canada Water," Broadwick Live's Strategy & Founder Simeon Aldred told Mixmag in October.

On Monday, July 11, Southwark Council approved plans for the venue’s regeneration in a meeting, giving the project the name Canada Water Masterplan to also include a number of other redevelopments in the surrounding area.

As part of the proposal, the venue, along with Surrey Quays’ leisure centre and shopping centre, will be turned into a co-working space featuring retail areas and offices through its enormous 10,600 sqm interior, transforming it into a 21.27-hectare working space.

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“The proposed design draws on extensive research into repurposing industrial buildings to create an innovative, one-of-a-kind place,” said developer Hawkins/Brown associate Andrew Tindale.

Printworks first opened in 2017 and was transformed from a former print press warehouse into the beloved London club. Since then, the venue has seen sold-out shows from global dance music heavyweights including Bicep, The Chemical Brothers, and Peggy Gou.

British Land’s project lead David Walters said that “Printworks is critical to this masterplan,” adding: “It alone will provide space for around 3,000 jobs. It will provide shops and restaurants alongside the new public park. It provides important bus infrastructure for Transport for London.”

It’s currently unknown when the club will be made to close, although developments for a new venue from the team behind Printworks are now currently underway.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter