Executive Summary
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E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y Executive Summary provide the basis for a more holistic approach to number of key organisations with responsibilities the many complex and interrelated issues relating and interests in the Kew to Chelsea stretch of the The River Thames lies at the heart of London and to its planning, management and use - issues river. touches the lives of most people in the capital - which require the involvement and commitment of whether as a focus of economic activity; a place the public, private and voluntary sectors and local Community participation has been central to the where people live, work or spend their leisure time; communities in active partnerships. development of the Strategy and has involved a transport artery; a natural environment and discussions with numerous organisations with habitat for wildlife; a leisure and recreation resource It is also a response to the lack of comprehensive responsibilities and interests in the study area and or simply as a source of inspiration and pride. guidance recognising the distinct characteristics of the active involvement of representatives of local individual stretches of the River Thames, the groups, organisations and local schools, in addition It has a vital contribution to make to the city's conflicting pressures for change and the potential to public exhibitions and open days. future and its status as a World City. But it remains to protect and enhance the value of the River for all an underused and in some places, a neglected Londoners. It has been devised with the Policy Recommendations asset, too often seen as a barrier rather than as a requirements and objectives set out in the Strategic The River Channel positive, unifying element. Planning Guidance for the River Thames (RPG3B/ 9B) in mind and is intended to provide the basis for ■ Encourage riparian owners and The Thames Strategy - Kew to Chelsea was managing long term change. Additionally, the riverside developers to improve commissioned in 1999 by a steering committee Strategy addresses the need for an effective appearance and ecological value of that includes the West London River Group, delivery mechanism and co-ordination between a river walls Greater London Authority (formerly Government Office for London and London Planning Advisory Committee), Environment Agency, English Heritage, English Nature, Port of London Authority and riparian boroughs. The Steering Committee shares a common belief that it is time to rediscover the Thames , to reconnect it to the rest of the city, improve the riverside environment, promote high quality urban design and bring the River Thames back to life. The Strategy covers the area between Kew and Chelsea and reflecting the rich diversity of this stretch of the river, from the historic waterfront of Strand-on-the-Green to the industrial riverside of Nine Elms, promotes a long term vision. It seeks to Access to the foreshore Duke’s Meadow Thames Strateg y - Kew to Chelsea ■ Consider potential for retired defences ■ Prevent encroachment into river except for improvement of river-related recreational or river ■ Review public access to foreshore. transport facilities Clarify legal position and responsibilities for public safety ■ Prepare river impact statements for new waterfront development schemes and river ■ Consistent safety approach based on infrastructure RoSPA guidance ■ Protect historic steps, slipways, hards Heritage and Conservation and drawdocks ■ One Thames:One Policy approach to ■ Encourage new pontoons and jetties management, identification and protection of archaeological resource Important local view: ■ Upgrade/encourage provision of riverside Hammersmith Mall from opposite bank facilities ■ Designate foreshore as Archaeological Priority Area ■ Rediscover and protect "lost rivers" feeding the Views and Landmarks ■ Appoint Thames Strategy Archaeological Officer Thames ■ Identify important local views and prospects on ■ Review and update UDPs to reflect the river's UDP maps. Consult on development proposals industrial significance. Identify industrial within viewing cones heritage sites ■ Road/railway bridge improvement to include ■ Adopt consistent approach to development of illumination, painting, facilities for pedestrians/ Conservation Area profiles and the funding of cyclists enhancements ■ Redevelopment to include restoration of ■ Restore integrity of buildings in historic settings visually important external features of industrial landmarks ■ Conserve and restore historic parks and gardens ; reinstate visual and physical ■ Reach character, important local views/ connections to the river prospects/local landmarks to inform siting of landmark buildings ■ Identify/develop key cultural associations of people, events, places. Connect and interpret ■ Protect setting, skyline and backdrop of historic places historical waterfronts from adverse impact of new development Battersea Bridge built by ■ Promote traffic management and street scene Sir Joseph Bazalgette in the late 1880’s improvements in riverside Conservation Areas ■ Prepare co-ordinated lighting strategy E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y Landscape and Open Space ■ Protect wooded Tow Path to provide diversity of age and structure. Upgrade /enhance ■ Prepare open space strategies and integrated riverside walkways land management plans for Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) ■ Recognise importance of cemeteries as open breaks in urban fabric . Protect and look at ■ Establish comprehensive project areas eg ways to create allotments within river corridor Duke's Meadow, to improve appearance and use of MOL Biodiversity ■ Establish more effective controls on covered ■ Identify and target key polluting discharges sports facilities and floodlighting on riverside and promote sustainable urban drainage MOL. Retain playing fields/sports pitches as systems open recreational land Chiswick Eyot and foreshore at Chiswick ■ Recognise and protect tidal Thames as a ■ Protect, enhance, manage green chains and fishery Recreation and Tourism corridors ■ Develop strategies for habitat protection, ■ Encourage rowing, sailing and canoeing management, restoration and expansion based on "Tidal Thames Habitat Action Plan" ■ Protect existing riverside facilities and provide well-equipped visitor moorings close to visitor ■ Protect and manage Oliver's Island and attractions Chiswick Eyot ■ Encourage passenger boats to attract wider ■ Tree planting programme before mature trees public and promote tourist potential of the river die ■ Encourage view of Thames as shared resource ■ Research alien species and manage effects/ and need for tolerance of others eradicate ■ Protect existing rights of way, safeguard ■ Promote nature conservation interests, Thames Path National Trail. Improve access to including measures to make sports pitches and along the river attractive to wildlife Wooded Tow Path, Barnes ■ Encourage riverside cycling, with the aim of ■ Environmental education programme targeting creating traffic-free cycle routes, segregated ■ Work with communities to restore/enhance user groups, those responsible for riverside from pedestrians public riverside parks and gardens. Maintain development sites, schools and general public. environmental quality and nature conservation Encourage involvement in conservation ■ Protect historic water fronts as focus of interest of private riverside gardens and projects activity/heritage. Promote arts, culture and grounds entertainment Thames Strateg y - Kew to Chelsea ■ Ensure accessibility to disabled people ■ Adopt design guidelines for riverside development as supplementary planning ■ Retain/upgrade existing piers and encourage guidance new piers at focal points of activity subject to navigation impact ■ Encourage developers to undertake detailed character assessment and contextual analysis ■ Increase regular river passenger travel. Introduce new services integrated with land- ■ Establish palette of preferred built forms and based public transport materials ■ Integrate land/river services - fares/ticketing/ ■ Identify development and activity hubs information ■ Promote mixed-use and sustainable University Boat Race 1961 ■ Encourage river transport of spoil and building development materials ■ Retain, replace and provide river-related ■ Promote festivals and events to realise tourist ■ Retain freight handling facilities and safeguard facilities potential and focus for waterside education/ wharves to encourage freight movement by ■ Prepare master plans for new open spaces community projects river ■ Consider proposals for high buildings in ■ Promote sustainable "green" recreation and ■ Retain existing riverside facilities eg boat relation to local context, environmental impact, tourism building sheds, marine services, slipways and quality of design, regeneration and sustainable docks ■ Co-ordinate information and publicity material objectives Shaping Development ■ Develop a co-ordinated recreation and visitor ■ Encourage architectural competition ■ strategy Prepare overall vision, including development ■ Encourage legal agreements from developers sites/areas in transition, design framework Movement for riverside treatment, long term maintenance and link creation and new facilities ■ Improve public transport interchanges. Enhance existing facilities, security and passenger information ■ Improve pedestrian/cycle links ■ Investigate new river crossings for pedestrians/ cyclists ■ Improve access to river and require high quality public right of way as part of riverside development Cheyne Walk E