Unlocking the potential of London’s canals and rivers Our Prospectus to support good growth, prosperity and wellbeing Foreword London’s canal network developed over 200 years ago to link to As a Trust we are excited by the challenge the capital’s river navigations and provide a route for transporting goods from the Midlands and the North to markets in London and of getting our disparate communities and beyond, creating industry and supporting the city’s development partners to recognise and appreciate the and prosperity. tremendous benefits associated with their Today, our waterways continue to make an important contribution local canals and rivers.… making life better to life in the city, albeit very different from their original role. Their role is now as life-enhancing blue-green corridors offering by water. an escape from the busy city streets, for health, exercise, and community cohesion. They make a vital contribution to the From historic canals to tidal rivers, within London we have wellbeing of London society by creating places where people waterways that run through stunning open countryside want to live and work, and routes that they can use – for leisure as well as densely populated urban areas. and commerce. Across the Capital’s waterway network we have almost They connect people to places and offer a network of routes for 1.3m people living within one kilometre of our waterways. getting around the city away from the traffic or the heavily-used We have a fantastic opportunity to engage these people public transport system. They are inclusive and accessible places with the waterway network but we will only be able to do for people to discover and enjoy, for leisure and relaxation, this by developing a deep appreciation and knowledge of to connect with heritage, culture and nature. They provide a the communities within our region. resource that supports learning and the development of skills. To do this we need to ensure that our partnerships with local We believe they have an important role to play in supporting community groups, politicians and businesses are strong and the Mayor’s aspirations and the local plans of all of London’s proactive in nature to ensure we are able to fashion bespoke diverse communities, to be an agent for solutions to maximise the opportunities “Good Growth” and wellbeing in London. that London’s waterway network can undoubtedly help deliver. This report sets out in more detail how the Canal & River Trust can play its Together with our partners we can utilise part in supporting that important goal. the waterway network to create a more prosperous, cohesive and greener London. Sir William Atkinson Allan Leighton Regional Advisory Board Chair Chair, Canal & River Trust Canal & River Trust 2 Unlocking the potential of London’s canals and rivers 3 erways at t wat he London’s waterways: ’s he on a d City Life rt n o o f Contributing to Good Growth L : Neighbourhood 5 Life 4 2 3 6 Your Life Waterways as part of ‘City Life’, 1 People of ‘Neighbourhood Life’ and ‘Your Life’ 7 London Places of London Capital Melting Pot Extending Healthy Streets: Enabling Healthier 1 Delivering the Grand Union 5 Communities: Canal Quietway. Meridian Water. 2. Delivering 1. Extending Strategic See pages 14 to 17 See pages 40 to 41 Healthy Regeneration Streets Opportunities Delivering Strategic Supporting Good 2 Regeneration Opportunities: 6 Growth Locally: 8. Supporting 3. Cultural Old Oak & Park Royal. QE Olympic Park. Clean & Assets: Renewable a City for all See pages 36 to 37 See pages 42 to 43 Energy London’s Londoners waterways Cultural Assets – a City Providing Housing Choice: contributing to 3 for all Londoners: 7 Docklands – multi-functional 7. Providing Good Growth 4. Supporting Regent’s 200. spaces. Housing Green See pages 44 to 45 See pages 38 to 39 Choice Innovations Supporting Green Supporting Clean & 6. Supporting 5. Enabling 4 Innovations: 8 Renewable Energy: Good Growth Healthier Potential for waterborne Heating & Cooling buildings; Locally Communities N freight linked to Crossrail2. Urban cooling. a ti See pages 20 to 21 See page 26 on al Par k City 4 Unlocking the potential of London’s canals and rivers 5 Major new opportunities to The Trust’s canals, rivers create high quality waterway neighbourhoods exist across east, and docks in London today west and central London. This includes sites in the early planning stages such as Old Oak & Park Royal and Meridian Water and London’s 100km of canals and rivers owned in places like London Docklands, and managed by the Trust already make the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hayes and Tottenham Hale a vital contribution to the wellbeing of the where new developments will build on the regeneration that has city, its neighbourhoods and its people. already happened. If appropriately planned, designed and funded, new developments can improve waterway environments and The Trust’s waterways can support the • The Paddington Basin opportunities for people to Mayor’s aspirations for Good Growth, redevelopment that has enjoy them. the vision for Healthy Streets and the overcome the challenges posed As well as providing excellent concept of the National Park City. by three generations of major opportunities for relaxation, leisure They connect centres of population, transport infrastructure to bring and active travel, our waterways and jobs, shops, culture and green and a new economic centre to this towpaths are increasingly taking on blue space, whilst helping the city to part of London; new roles in London’s sustainable meet its needs more sustainably. • The Queen Elizabeth Olympic growth. They’re contributing to the Many parts of the canal and river Park that knitted the waterways city’s green future by saving the network are alive with powered and into London’s hugely successful energy for cooling buildings and unpowered boats, and a variety of Olympic and Paralympic Games a means of managing the flow of towpath users. and legacy plans that continue surface water; our towpaths in to see the waterways as particular are supporting health and Reflecting their historic origins, vital parts of a sustainable wellbeing, access to culture and a canals flow through some of the regeneration of this substantial better understanding of heritage; more deprived parts of London. area of East London. and, through the Trust’s education, This provides significant scope volunteering and adoptions for the canals to act as a catalyst • The multi-award winning Brentford programmes, they’re helping for imaginative developments to Lock West by Waterside Places, communities to come together and enhance the lives of those living a joint venture between the individuals to develop new skills. and working locally. Trust and Muse, which has begun to bring new life to the canalside The Trust wants its vision of living Regeneration of the waterways and by regenerating former waterways that transform places waterside spaces in London has industrial land. and enrich lives to be shared by been delivering high quality places communities, local, regional and for many years. Amongst many • The regeneration of Tottenham national government, businesses others, these include: Hale, including the multi-award and other charities and believes that winning, mixed use development • The King’s Cross redevelopment, together we can build a policy and at Hale Village to the west of the with the amphitheatre terrace at delivery framework to achieve it. Lee Navigation. Granary Square that encourages people to engage with the activity of the Regent’s Canal; Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 6 Unlocking the potential of London’s canals and rivers along the Lee Navigation 7 London’s waterway neighbourhoods – existing & proposed London’s waterway neighbourhoods – Camden Open Day, Regent’s Canal existing & proposed Over 1.2 million Londoners live within 1km of one of the Trust’s 100km of waterways in the city (15% of the city’s population). Our waterways form an important For many users, our waterways part of 16 boroughs north of the provide a wonderful, free-at-the- Thames and the two Mayoral point-of-use asset.1 However, just Development Corporations. maintaining them comes at a cost for the Trust. In 2018/19, our London Canal & River Trust waterways are Waterway team spent approximately within or adjacent to many of the £3.5m, with a further approximately London Plan’s Opportunity Areas £2m being spent on more major and the Mayor’s Housing Zones. engineering schemes in London As planned, these sites alone amount and the South East, such as lock to approximately 125,000 new homes gate replacements. and 250,000 jobs, with Old Oak Park Royal and Meridian Water planning for 40,000 new homes and 75,000 jobs between them. 1 The Trust is not able to offer free public access to the waterways for all users or at all times London Boroughs containing Trust waterways grouped as per London Councils definition: West Central East Trust Waterways River Thames 8 Unlocking the potential of London’s canals and rivers 9 London’s waterway neighbourhoods – existing & proposed Canal & River Trust waterways are within As planned, these sites alone amount to approximately2 or adjacent to many of the London Plan’s 125,000 and 250,000 Opportunity Areas and the Mayor’s new homes jobs Housing Zones. 2 Homes and jobs figures are based on documents issued by the Mayor of London prior to the publication of the Draft London Plan (2018), which contains figures yet to be adopted. Ponders End 700 jobs 1,100 homes Cricklewood/ Brent Cross 20,000 jobs 10,000 homes City Fringe/ Tech City 53,000 jobs 15,000 homes Meridian Water 6,700 jobs 10,000 homes King’s Cross/ St.