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 to Chelsea stretch of the The lies at the heart of 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 Authority (formerly Government Office for London and London Planning Advisory Committee), Environment Agency, English Heritage, English Nature, 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 , 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 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 , 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, 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 x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y

Local Opportunities ■ Environmental improvements - eg restore Tow Path and historic passages

■ Enhance Jubilee Gardens

■ Improve access to the river

■ Restore Small Profits Dock

Barnes Terrace Lower Mall, Hammersmith ■ Traffic management and public realm improvements ■ Riverbank improvements eg retired defences and eradication of Japanese knotweed ■ Replace flood defence wall ■ Use Chiswick Boathouse as focus for ■ Restore Barnes Railway Bridge and new watersports cycleway Chiswick Quay, formerly Cubitt’s Basin ■ Protect Duke's Hollow nature reserve ■ Future of police station ■ Improve link to Chiswick Pier House Kew Riverside Duke’s Meadow Chiswick and Hammersmith Malls ■ Manage Tow Path and vegetation ■ Management and landscape plan ■ Conserve and restore riverside mansions and ■ Restore Kew Railway Bridge ■ Reconcile recreation, conservation and leisure roles terraces ■ Improve passenger facilities at ■ Public realm improvements ■ Restore Westerley Ware Gardens ■ Conserve Chiswick Eyot ■ Public benefits from riverside development ■ Increase use of Chiswick Pier Strand on the Green ■ Enhance Dove Pier ■ Conserve historic waterfront ■ Potential for Chiswick - Barnes ferry ■ Restore river structures ■ Rediscover lost rivers ■ Repair and restore river wall ■ River wall improvements ■ Improve links to adjoining areas ■ Improved signage The White Hart PH, and recent ■ Olivers Island Management Plan riverside development, Mortlake Thames Strateg y - Kew to Chelsea

Fulham Reach Putney Embankment

■ Enhance riverside walkway ■ Explore archaeological potential of foreshore

■ Riverside walk - improve access and create ■ Restore Putney Railway Bridge missing sections ■ Improve pedestrian and cycle links ■ Restore Crabtree Drawdock and adjacent ■ Extend river walk under Putney Bridge areas ■ Enhance Putney Hard for river sports ■ Open space improvements ■ Discovery/Education Centre at Ashlone Wharf The Wetland Centre today ■ Interpret industrial archaeology ■ Increase use of Lonsdale Road Fulham Palace

■ Manage the Leg of Mutton reservoir ■ Fulham Palace conservation and management plan ■ Protect the rural nature of the river bank and Tow Path ■ Palace and grounds as a heritage and visitor attraction ■ Manage riverbank vegetation ■ Renewal of the mature trees along the riverside ■ St Paul's School landscape plan ■ Further improvements at Bishops Park ■ Restore cobbled revetments ■ Protect important views ■ Improve lighting and signage Mid-stream moorings off Wandsworth Park ■ Improve connections between Wetland Centre and river ■ Public realm and access improvements Wandsworth Riverside

■ Create "Thames Discovery Centre" ■ Create activity hubs

■ Green chain open space link to Richmond ■ Wandle Delta riverbank improvements Park ■ Wandle Promenade

■ Enhance recreational facilities ■ Public open space at Feathers Wharf

■ Potential for seasonal ferry ■ Rejuvenate Wandsworth Park

■ Enhance Queen Elizabeth Walk ■ Improve links to surrounding area and public ■ Protect industrial archaeology transport

■ Tree planting and enhancement of Tow Path Putney Pier ■ Reopen Battersea High Street Station E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y

Hurlingham and Sands End ■ Maximise public benefits from new development ■ Safeguard wharves ■ New station and public transport improvements ■ Enhance Hurlingham Park Chelsea Embankment ■ Upgrade river walk; improve links; missing section ■ Conserve historic townscape

■ Restore Broomhouse Drawdock ■ Restore Cremorne Gardens and street trees

■ Protect archaeology ■ Increase use of Cadogan Pier

Chelsea Harbour and Chelsea Creek ■ Protect views from bridges

■ Extend river walk over creek/under railway ■ Reinterpret Ranelagh Gardens and Royal Hospital bridge ■ Pedestrian link across Battersea Railway Battersea Riverside and Park ■ Potential for new cross-river pedestrian link Bridge ■ Integrate public spaces ■ New railway station and public transport ■ Chelsea Harbour/Imperial Wharf as leisure/ ■ Restore and enhance activity hub improvements ■ Potential for re-use of existing pier ■ Increase use of the existing pier/river services ■ New riverside walk ■ Connect to future leisure/transport facilities at ■ Enhance Chelsea Creek environmental/ Battersea Power Station The Way Forward heritage value ■ Enhance river walk The preparation of this Strategy is seen as a first ■ Improve interpretation facilities step in working to provide for a better long term future for the River Thames between Kew and ■ Restore Ransomes Dock Chelsea and for promoting greater public use and Nine Elms enjoyment of the River. The Strategy will continue to evolve over time in response to new challenges ■ Redevelopment of Battersea Power Station as and opportunities. Key decisions will need to be leisure and regeneration hub made about the delivery and management of the ■ Better links with surrounding area, eg Strategy and how this will be funded and Battersea Park and public transport implemented. An Action Plan will be prepared with a programme of priorities and targets for delivery of ■ Safeguard wharves the Strategy. Worlds End Thames Strateg y - Kew to Chelsea

Delivery and Management ■ Co-ordinate actions through existing initiatives and implementation of specific projects and partnerships (for example other Thames detailed in the Strategy The Strategy has already been adopted as partnerships) Supplementary Planning Guidance by the London ■ Involvement of community at early stage in Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, ■ Establish a new partnership (the Cross-River preparation of development proposals Partnership and Thames Landscape Strategy- and Richmond-upon-Thames; this should ensure ■ Establishment of a community organisation Hampton to Kew are examples of partnerships that the Strategy is given consideration in planning database applications and decisions that affect the Strategy set up to address river-related issues and ■ area. It is envisaged that the Strategy policy provide useful models) Dedicated website recommendations will also be considered in future ■ Establish a strategic partnership covering the reviews of the riparian boroughs' Unitary whole of the Thames within London (potential Development Plans to establish a more consistent for this clearer when the London Plan is and coherent approach to planning policies relating published) to the River and the consideration of development proposals. The selection of a Strategy management structure will be subject to detailed discussion between the Steering Committee and others.

Consultation

This Strategy has already undergone a tremendous amount of public consultation. It is recognised that the Strategy will continue to evolve over the years, Strand on the Green and further public consultation will be essential, Education particularly in project development. The Strategy recognises the need to develop the Community Involvement River as an educational resource, to introduce children and adults to the river and to provide Chiswick Eyot with behind The Strategy aims to promote greater community training for decision-makers. The Strategy seeks use and involvement in the river. Indeed there are a The Strategy also identifies a number of possible to build on existing initiatives in the study area and number of opportunities to work towards this: management structures for the implementation of sets out proposals including: the Strategy: ■ Creation of focal points of community activity ■ Establishment of an education working group ■ Single entity implementation (individual ■ Extended programme of community activities ■ Website link to schools and the community stakeholders undertake projects within their ■ Involvement of local community trusts, ■ Further development of educational resources defined area of responsibility on a project by organisations and individuals in development project basis) E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y

■ New consultation approaches, e.g. Enquiry by ■ Developer contributions Design ■ Sponsorship ■ Training for developers, decision makers and ■ Fundraising planners The Steering Committee has already submitted ■ Establishment of local discovery centres funding applications for the early stages of Strategy implementation and is working hard to identify and secure further funds.

The Action Plan

The next step is to prepare an Action Plan that will prioritise and set targets for the implementation of the Strategy. The Action Plan will be reviewed regularly but initially will include:

■ Prioritisation of strategic and local projects for development and implementation Foreshore at Duke’s Meadow ■ Finance review, identification of funding opportunities, funding application submissions Funding ■ Confirmation of consultation procedures Funding will be required to maintain the day-to-day running of the Strategy and will also be required for specific project implementation. The fundraising will need to be carefully considered, co-ordinated and targeted. It is intended that the Strategy will draw funding from a range of potential sources, including:

■ National, Regional and local Agencies/ Authorities

■ Riparian boroughs

■ Regeneration programmes

■ Lottery Funding Battersea Riverside Thames Strateg y - Kew to Chelsea

Local and Strategic Issues