surge co-op

Surge Co-op Vision for a barge friendly Moorings and Planning Framework Report

Contents

Our Vision 3

Background 4

Problems & Solutions 5

43 Unused Wharves 6

Planning Framework 7

Rejuvenating London’s Lost Moorings 9

Biodiversity 12

Our Key Points 13 The Wharves:

Hercules Wharf 14

Crown Wharf 16

Silvocea & Orchard Wharf 19

Mayer Parry Wharf 21

Priors Wharf 22

Commercial Wharf 23

Leven Road Gasworks & Poplar Reach Wharf 24

Electra Wharf 26

Cody Dock 28

Ailsa Street Wharf 30

St Leonard’s Wharf 31

Sun Wharf 32

House Mill & Wharf 33

Channelsea River & Pacific Wharf 35

References 37 surge co-op

Our Vision

Surge Co-operative aims to re-animate a barge friendly Bow Creek There is a massive shortage of London moorings, especially by creating sustainable community-led work/live moorings for considering the extensive waterways within the boroughs of larger boats. We propose to make use of our underused local blue Tower Hamlets and Newham. Our aim is to greatly improve network of historic wharves and quaysides by building lasting creative waterways access not only for boaters but to all London residents links between communities on land and water, with promotion of and visitors. waterways and moorings regeneration the ultimate aim. This report identifies underused wharves with great potential and Our core team set up the Surge Co-operative after years of collectively looks at the planning framework around the historic moorings, their living on or around the river, we have gained an intimate understanding evolving uses and under-uses on the riverside. of the river’s ebbs and flows, and see the distinct neglect and emptiness of a once thriving barge-friendly waterway, which makes us With a view to prompting constructive dialogue, we aim to consult passionate about initiating and supporting projects that open up the and work with stakeholders on how best to promote the re-use of riverside once again for moorings and local community use. historic quaysides, wharves and riverside, to achieve an active, vibrant and enlivened water space. We have years of experience in space making and community projects revolving around a diverse network of creative disciplines, Despite historic moorings having been lost to evolving industrial and recognise the untapped potential of this part of east London. changes and detached water-side development, policy is slowly By forging new and long-running relationships with stakeholders to addressing the need to re-energise ancient waterways’ usage achieve better moorings infrastructure, we’re eager to help transform and public river access. We propose better collaborations with Bow Creek into a hive of sustainable creativity and a vision for a stakeholders to achieve substantive benefits. rejuvenated barge and moorings led future. .

Poplar Reach AL CREE Pacific Wharf.AL CREE

‘ Our Association suggests about 15,000 people are thought to live afloat in Great Britain, with at least 3000 residential boaters in London. ’ Background Residential Boat Owners Association, 2011

Multiple developments along Bow Creek over the next 15 years will change the landscape and riverside access for the next century. By taking positive action now, the multiple historical occupancies of the wharfside moorings and quayside river access will be safeguarded.

We believe all new suitable developments adjoining an under-used water space, especially historic wharves, should be helped to facilitate the inclusion of moorings, ideally seeking work/live/residential permission, but also for small commercial, passenger and community Blackwall Basin. AL CREE boat services by liaising with local boating groups to ascertain area specific needs. ‘ … the number of approved residential moorings on the Thames is already critically inadequate. ’ Andy Soper, Chairman DBA The Barge Association

4

Problems Solutions

Many historic wharfs are being lost to land-only developments. Use planning policies to guarantee historic moorings and infrastructure are kept functional.

Land prices for wharves and quaysides have risen Help planners and landowners to facilitate the use of new and existing moorings. dramatically, precluding their historic use for mooring.

Rejuvenate Bow Creek as a vibrant accessable water space destination by water and land. There is a London-wide shortage of moorings. Work with developers to help integrate moorings into the overall water space plan.

• Long-term planning could help provide public access to • Restore and re-use the existing wharves as a place for community boats and gardens and work to help barges to moor and as valuable local historical assets the overall spatial strategy, improving the social infrastructure for the area, whilst helping to regenerate • Improve the social infrastructure and desirability of the area the water space and nurture the rich biodiversity along by providing a vibrant and lively local community scene the Lea • Increase safety for river-path users as boaters provide • Provide viable community moorings for local boat owners passive security and fulfil a custodial role on the river. who have a natural respect for the environment and for active and engaged community living

Although we have identified an initial set of the most suitable moorings in Bow Creek for contemplation in the scope of this report, it is not wholly comprehensive and other sites could also be brought in at a later date. This report currently only focuses on Bow Creek, although similar issues are found across London and the UK, most of the policy framework is London-wide and transferable to other boroughs. 5 43 Unused Wharves

Of 43 wharves currently identified in the Lea it is very difficult for them to incorporate the River Park Plan, only 2 are currently in use, and necessary facilities needed for the upkeep these are on the Thames at . of usable historic moorings.

With such a London-wide dearth of mooring As soon as a new development has re-formed opportunities, all of these historic wharfs should the landscape along the riverside, the lost be considered for use, the surrounding highly access ladders, unloading areas, mooring populated canal network caters well for narrow bollards, cleats to tie to, power and water boats, but the larger tidal Lea/Bow Creek has supplies become designed out, making it very many unused mooring opportunities historically difficult to re-integrate them or negotiate with used for larger barges, which are now poorly large companies to have them re-instated for catered for in London. a small business or moorings operator.

Historically wharves have been operated We believe most historic wharves could be by small to medium businesses that needed kept usable by co-operating with developers, riverside access, now these riverside properties and highlighting the ways moorings are a are prime housing and development land, positive asset and can easily be regularised where only large developers are able to tender within the planning policy framework, these for large scale regeneration schemes, and aims compliment the strategic vision for the Leaway.

1. Tredegar Wharf 12. Worlands Wharf 23. Crown Wharf 34. Jubilee Wharf 2. Empress Wharf 13. Crown Wharf 24. Baldwins Wharf 35. Castle Wharf 3. Pacific Wharf 14. Wharf 25. Ocean Harvest Wharf 38. Bond’s Wharf 4. Sun Wharf 15. Commercial Wharf 26. Upper Wharf 37. Hercules Wharf 5. South Wharf 18. Creek Wharf 27. Cooperage Wharf 38. Wharf 6. St Leonards Wharf 17. Moody Wharf 28. Middle Wharf 39. Brunswick Wharf 7. Ailsa Wharf 18. lronbridge Wharf 29. Old School Wharf 40. Orchard Wharf 8. Islay Wharf 19. Great Eastern Railway Wharf 30. Davies Wharf 41. Union Wharf 9. Devons Wharf 20. Orchard Wharf 31. Glasshouse Wharf 42. Trinity Buoy Wharf Lea River Park Design Manual COPYRIGHT © LONDON LEGACY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, 2016 10. Priors Wharf 21. Silvocea Wharf 32. Tar Wharf 43. Thames Wharf I I. Mayer Parry Wharf 22. Bridge Wharf 33. Lower Wharf 6 Blackwall Basin. AL CREE

The work/live space in boats creates new, affordable, flexible floorspace Planning Framework that can be used by local businesses and SMEs. Providing flexible floor- IWA Policy On Residential Moorings space is supported by both London and LB Newham planning policies, as these look to increase opportunities for workspace suitable for SMEs. 6. Planning Issues in Brief Mooring of boats does not require specific planning approval although developing a The Mayor of London safeguarded a small fraction of London’s wharves, marina with ancillary structures will and moving from leisure to residential moorings the scope of which narrowed down on those that could be made will probably be considered as a change of use. commercially viable for larger freight and passenger operations, and does not distinguish from the many other historic wharves, often smaller The Lea River Park Design Manual, makes a great case for the river park, with better but still suitable to be kept in continuation for smaller commercial, access and integrated design, although it could still incorporate more of the historic residential, recreational or community uses. barge moorings and better water space access improvements in the future.

Currently there is no safe usable access for barges or even narrow boats to stop along the entire tidal creek. St Pancras Cruising Club currently explore the Thames and tributaries but can only navigate along the creek without mooring up.

St Pancras Cruising Club passing Bow Creek. AL CREE 7 We think there should be a feasabilty assessment on every waterside development on how best to integrate moorings and waterside access, as a way to keeping the historic quayside’s and wharves accessable for future generations of river users.

Bow Creek is tidal, so all the old wharves have drying births, they’ve been selected for their historic use. Some have their own ‘Campshed’ a bargebed structure built on the foreshore that enables barges to sit level at low tide, whilst most of the others would be flat enough already, or need minimal leveling of the silt build up.

LBTH Draft Local Plan Recommendations for new Development adjacent to Water Historic bargebed at Thre Mills House Mill. AL CREE 4.8 Where heritage assets are present, design should pay special regard to protecting their setting. Above is the remains of an old ‘campshed’ bargebed by Three Mills

House Mill.

Along from GTEC house on Channelsea River. AL CREE 8 Rejuvenating London’s Lost Moorings

Tower Hamlets and Newham have a large portion of London’s waterways, AINA Residential Use Of Inland Waterways of which in 2016 over 5,000 boaters use. Only recently Local Council 2.3 People living afloat: a specific household group plans and the London plan have started to incorporate the needs of People living on their boat as their sole or main place of residence are residential and leisure boaters, and the lack of residential moorings, identified by the Government as an example of a household group. at the same time as a willingness to stop the loss of historic quays and wharves. ‘Strategic Housing Market Assessments – Practice Guidance’ by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published With rising housing costs for many years, people have increasingly bought in March 2007 to support PPS 3, refers to barges used for residential boats in search of a more affordable way to own a dwelling, and this has purposes as a different type of accommodation and minority and hard helped to animate and create socially balanced and inclusive communities, to reach household group, under chapter 6 on ‘Housing Requirements promoting diversity and usability of the waterways. of Specific Household Groups’.

Surprisingly, unlike gypsies, travellers, vulnerable people and the homeless, there’s been little policy direction to the benefit of the thousands living in LBTH Draft Local Plan boats across London. Although the improving policy framework around 2.5 ‘Socially balanced and inclusive communities’ with a range of residential moorings development on appropriate sites is a great step in dwellings to meet their needs. helping those who live afloat to keep their continuity and connection with 4.2 Key Objectives an area. Promote recognition of Tower Hamlets’ water spaces are a key part of the Borough’s heritage, through working with partners and developers The Draft London Plan 9.16.2 to reveal, protect and interpret the significance of these features. There has been a significant increase in the number of boats on London’s waterways (from 2,000 in 2010 to 5,000 in 2016), with a notable increase 4.42 The Council seeks to provide for the specialist housing needs of the in central and eastern parts of London’s canal network. borough including students, gypsies and travellers, older, homeless and vulnerable people in appropriate locations. There is a deficit of residential, leisure, visitor and commercial moorings to meet the increase in demand.

9 C&RT Draft London Mooring Strategy Oct 2017 Whilst considering boats are normally regarded as chattels, there is Our Objectives For The London Mooring Strategy provision in housing policy to also encompass residential moorings To help us achieve our vision for London’s waterways we which could help create thousands of new affordable homes. have set the following objectives:

1. Better provision and management of a range of moorings in London. In 2011, Housing Minister Grant Shapps confirmed that new residential moorings with planning approval could qualify for the ‘New Homes Bonus’, aimed to increase the supply of affordable housing.

Although not explicit, it should follow that boaters needs are an important consideration. Fortunately planning authorities are implementing progressive policies on water space and moorings incorporation for residential boaters, but the implementation of them is still not borne out as readily as the necessity deserves.

Ironically most new London developments which adjoin waterways will have an architect or artist’s impression with boats in the foreground, yet the planning permission will rarely include provision for moorings for these boats, let alone residential moorings.

It is rarely seen, but can be a relatively simple task to re-incorporate historic moorings in new development plans which could be used to count towards Section 106 agreements or the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) requirements.

Waterways are valuable public assets, contributing to an area’ s cultural and built heritage. Sadly, many wharves have now lost their original mooring points and exist only in name. The rich diversity of the historic wharves and waterways featured in the marketing of waterside properties could be lost to land-only developments, whilst London’s rivers and canals are struggling to cope with demand.

Sailing barge north from A13. PETER MARSHAL Stand up Paddle board class by the canal.

The Draft London Plan 2017 Policy SI16 Waterways – Use and Enjoyment

A Development plans should protect and enhance waterway E Major development schemes adjacent to waterways should consider infrastructure to enable water-dependent uses. the provision of new moorings.

B Development proposals that increase the provision of water-sport F Existing access points to waterways (including slipways and historic centres and associated new infrastructure will be supported if a steps) and alongside waterways (including paths) should be protected deficit in provision has been identified locally and if the infrastructure and enhanced. does not negatively impact on navigation. G Development proposals along waterways should explore opportunities C Development proposals for cultural, educational and community for new, extended, improved and inclusive access infrastructure. facilities and events should be supported and promoted, but H Development proposals should improve and expand the Thames Path should take into consideration the protection and other uses of and the tow-paths and provide better linkages to the transport the waterways. network. This will require collaboration with relevant partners including D New mooring facilities should be: the London boroughs, the PLA and the Canal and Rivers Trust, the Environment Agency and Natural , as well as landowner, 1) supported as part of development proposals, but should be off-line developer and community representatives. These paths will be from main navigation routes, in basins or docks, unless there are public and not private spaces. no negative impacts on navigation 2) managed in a way that respects the character of the waterways.

Thames 21 planting a reedbed . 11 Biodiversity

Having occupied moorings enables boaters to act as custodians and with better public access a greater interaction with the immediate water space, is achieved, which helps biodiversity enhancements to be more readily installed. This can provide charities like Thames21 better and safer access, which helps them work with local communities to install water space green areas to improve biodiversity.

We aim to protect and enhance the rich biodiversity of the tidal river including localised interventions to increase marginal vegetation and habitat e.g. floating reed beds, planting niches in the river wall etc.

Moorings invariably can help to facilitate the biodiversity aims of the London and Local Plans.

Floating garden.

Thames 21 planting a reedbed . Floating beds on Floating reed beds Biomatrix Water 12 surge co-op Our Key Points

We would like to see three major changes, which would help to improve the current status quo:

1. Boaters as a recognised and important demographic in the diverse makeup of London’s residents, and their need for work/live residential moorings, more specifically enshrined in local housing policy.

2. All new developments adjoining a water space, especially with pre-existing historic wharf usage, to facilitate the inclusion of moorings, ideally with residential permission, by liaising with local boating groups and stakeholders.

3. A cross organisation initiative for already developed land-based sites to free up access to the adjacent water space for smaller moorings developments.

As can be seen from the list of references on the last page, many organisations have written about Bow Creek but none have focused on the historic use of the river by barges and other vessels, and the loss of its wharves and quaysides for them to moor against. Hopefully this document helps to redress that.

On the following pages we have identified historic moorings assets needing urgent evaluation of current and future usage, for the enjoyment of barges and water traffic, and for improving water space access for all residents.

12 Looking from Electra Wharf to Poplar Reach Wharf . AL CREE Hercules Wharf THE WHARVES: Goodluck Hope

Artist’s impression of Hercules Wharf with boats. AL CREE 13 Hercules Wharf Goodluck Hope

Bow Creek, west bank and Brunswick Wharf power station, 1983. PETER MARSHAL Hercules Wharf. AL CREE

Hercules Wharf is now already under development. The below Draft Local Plan hoped it could be incorporated into use for river-based activities. It is a perfect site to re-introduce moorings on this existing historic site with an inset quayside and ‘campshed’ for barges.

Bow Creek, Leamouth and the Thames from the Lower Lea Crossing, 1992. PETER MARSHAL Tower Hamlets Draft Local Plan Chapter 4.8.3 Strategic Policy OS2 Enhancing Water Spaces provide services for typically marine leisure vessels and light b. Protecting and safeguarding all existing water spaces commercial operators, such as pilot boats, RIB charter vessels and water taxis. The boatyard could enable the wharf to establish Chapter 5 Delivering Place Making itself a ‘Marine Related Business Park’ that complements the Design Principles For Hercules Wharf on adjacent Thames Clipper fleet. There is already a range of the Leamouth Peninsula marine and boat related businesses in the area, so this would ‘There is also an opportunity to utilise the waterways and extend the existing uses. promote its use’. 3.87 Hercules Wharf is currently used for various warehouses and Tower Hamlets Water space Study office spaces, however it is a proposed development site. 3.86 There is also an opportunity for the north side of the wharf, Development at this site could contribute to the connection of which offers good access to the Thames as well as a degree of East India Basin and Trinity Buoy Wharf, as well as the emerging protection from activity on the river, to introduce a small boat City Island development. The site itself could also enhance the service yard to provide facilities for users such as marine leisure access along the Thames and provide additional active frontage vessels and light commercial operators. The boat yard would and landside recreational facilities to attract visitors to this area.

15 Crown Wharf City Island

15 Artist’s impression of Crown Wharf, City Island with boats. AL CREE Aerial View of City Island. VDONALDSON/LPBG Crown Wharf City Island

Crown Wharf, looking west. PETER MARSHAL Crown Wharf, City Island barge bed by Pura Foods factory. PETER MARSHAL

Bow Creek and the west side of the Goodluck Hope peninsula, 1986. BHO

Crown Wharf, City Island barge bed. AL CREE

Crown Wharf has a 70m concrete ‘campshed’ bargebed, still in good condition, although unsightly from land it would be a perfect site with little work to have an enlivened barge moorings. It could also make a great strategic access point for a visitors pontoon and watersports launch site and community boat stop.

Canning Town Wharf in 1935. Today, station is situated in the distance. NEWHAM ARCHIVES 17 Aerial View of City Island. VDONALDSON/LPBG

The London Plan’s ‘Blue Ribbon Network’ outlines the need to ‘protect and enhance waterway support infrastructure such as boatyards, moorings, jetties’ (Policy 7.27), also stressing that local boroughs should ‘identify the location of waterway facilities and any opportunities for enhancing or extending facilities, especially within opportunity areas and other areas where a particular need has been identified.’

17 Silvocea & Orchard Wharf Poplar

Orchard Wharf. AL CREE 18 Silvocea & Orchard Wharf The west side of Goodluck Hope peninsula, 1935. Poplar

Orchard Place IOD The barge, Sidney P. (JJ Prior), 1982 Orchard Wharf, The ship on the right is the Peter P, owned and operated by JJ Prior. MIKE SEABORNE moored at Orchard Wharf. PETER MARSHAL

Orchard wharf once had a slipway, but it was filled in for the DLR construction, it is a linear quayside on a wide stretch of river with public footpath alongside, these adjoining wharves could provide the space for a smalll marina.

LBTH Local Plan Ammendments MM99 Part 3: Policies Chapter 4.21 Meeting Housing Needs We also support the delivery of residential moorings in suitable locations Orchard Wharf, with Blackwall Power Station in the background, 1982. MIKE SEABORNE (further guidance is provided in policy D.OWS2). To respond to multiple representations (LP514, LP665).

MM264 Part 4: Delivering Sustainable Places Sub-area 4 and south Poplar Point 20: Ensure a continuous and vibrant publicly accessible riverside walkway along the Thames Path, linking to the Park.

Orchard Wharf. PETER MARSHAL 20 Mayer Parry Wharf Canning Town

North from the Canning Town A13 Flyover, 1983. MIKE SEABORNE

Mayer Parry Wharf. AL CREE North from the Canning Town A13 Flyover. PETER MARSHAL

Mayer Parry wharf has been recommended to be released from the Mayor of London’s safeguarded wharfs, it has been earmarked for housing development, although could provide moorings relatively easily.

21 Priors Wharf Canning Town EMR

Priors Wharf. AL CREE B Power Station, 1973. PETER LAND

Priors Wharf has also been recommended to be released from the Mayor of London’s safeguarded wharfs, it’s currently now a land-based only, metals recycling operation, but could be brought back to use for mooring in future.

Priors Wharf. AL CREE

22 Commercial Wharf Blackwall Trading Estate

Commercial Wharf. AL CREE LBTH Draft Core Strategy Policy SP04 of the Draft Tower Hamlets Core Strategy sets out the objective of delivering a network of high-quality, usable and accessible water spaces.

This includes improving accessibility to and along water spaces to maximise usability and promote these places for cultural, recreational and leisure activities.

Commercial Wharf. AL CREE

LBTH Core Strategy 2016 Commercial Wharf has lost it’s original mooring assets in the more recent Policies Dev 47 and 48 require new development of industrial units, and the silt has banked up in recent years, developments with river frontage along but there is space at the rear of the units for access and a long quayside the River Lea to provide a riverside which could be brought back into moorings use with a liitle work, and will walkway to acceptable standards. Policy Dev 64 identifies the length of the from stakeholders River Lea as part for of the Green Chain.

23 Poplar Reach Wharf Leven Road Gasworks

Poplar Reach Wharf. AL CREE 23 Poplar Reach Wharf Leven Road Gasworks

View of Poplar Reach Wharf from Cody Dock. AL CREE Artist’s impression of proposed Poplar Reach moorings. SURGE CO-OP

Tower Hamlets Core Strategy Outlines a need to identify new uses for the borough’s waterways, particularly Poplar Riverside. Barging on Bow Creek, Poplar Reach Wharf. PETER MARSHAL View of Poplar Reach Wharf from Electra Wharf. AL CREE

With a new large development and park being created moorings asset, which should be re-incorporated into here by Berkely homes, now is the perfect time to the new development and could be a relatively simple incorporate a moorings development along the 140m option, with discussions between stakeholders from an inset quayside, we see this location as a prime historic early stage to help facilitate a working plan.

25 Electra Wharf Old Barking Power Station

Electra Wharf. AL CREE

25 Electra Wharf Old Barking Power Station

Electra Wharf. AL CREE

Electra wharf was once the site of Barking power station, and still retains some of the original mooring ‘dolphins’ (bollards to tie to).

It recently had a partial refurbish of the river wall and the vertical wooden rubbing strakes for protection when vessels are moored alongside. Artist’s impression of a boat moored at Electra Wharf. AL CREE

There is around 70m of usable quayside with no work needed apart from mains infrastructure/connections, this is another prime historical asset with a perfect opportunity to provide the needed moorings re-use and enlivened water space.

Electra Wharf. AL CREE Electra Wharf. AL CREE 27 Cody Dock South Crescent

Boats moored at Cody Dock. AL CREE 27 Cody Dock South Crescent

Gasworks Dock Partnership has successfully achieved their planning permission for the Cody Dock masterplan, and will be the first significant barge friendly contribution to the Bow Creek water space in decades.

With work/live moorings, a visitor moorings pontoon, watersports launch, educational boat, community space and gardens it will help improve access and creates a community Landscaped garden and open footpath at Cody Dock. AL CREE Landscaped garden and open footpath at Cody Dock. AL CREE asset from a once derelict and contaminated forgotten dock site. Cody Dock Approved Masterplan 2017–2027 Planning Design and Access Statement

The work/live moorings support the wider Leaway project, and the overarching strategic desire of both LB Newham and LB Tower Hamlets to create a vibrant, accessible green corridor for the wider East London region. Work/live moorings within Cody Dock will provide essential twenty-four hour animation and passive surveillance along a largely detached section of the Leaway path, creating a safer and more welcoming environment for users of the Leaway at all hours of the day and night. The moorings will also mean that access routes through Cody Dock 3d Model. Cody Dock to the Leaway can remain open outside of office hours.

29 Ailsa Street Wharf Aberfeldy Village

Ailsa Street is another large development that will have a large impact in the near future. It had partial remedial work to the river wall, access ladders and the railings were replaced recently. This should be another opportunity for the developers to incorporate river friendly barge access to the moorings.

Ailsa Street Wharf. AL CREE 29 St Leonard’s Wharf Veolia Depot

St Leonard’s Wharf has moorings assets and a scoured river bed allowing shallow craft to stay afloat, it could make a suitable small mooring opportunity.

LBTH Core Strategy outlines a need to identify new uses for the borough’s waterways, particularly Poplar Riverside, whilst the borough’s Local Development Framework lays out plans for creating a blue grid, which ‘includes identifying sites for moorings’ (4.5).

St Leonard’s Wharf. AL CREE 30 Sun Wharf Springer Court

Sun Wharf. AL CREE

Sun wharf, now developed into springer court would have once been used to tie up barges and lighters waiting to go through . The mud and rubbish has built up here and it’s a little steeply banked so would need some consideration to mooring, but is still a suitable historic place to re-utilise and improve the water space, including for barges.

Sun Wharf. AL CREE 32 Three Mills As can be seen to the side of the footpath, the remains of ‘campshed’ Wharf bargebeds made of planking would have served the millers’ barges at low tide. The ‘pool’ outside the incongruous wall of the film studios Conservation Area in this heritage site, once had sailing barges tie up regularly and would have served as moorings for other vessels, as depicted in the historic pictures. It would be great to bring these heritage assets back to life in keeping with their historical uses on the water space.

Three Mills Bargebed. AL CREE 32 Three Mills Wharf Conservation Area

Historic barge pool at Three Mills from House Mill archive.

Three Mills Barge House Mill from House MIll archive LBTH Strategic Planning. Local Plan

Three Mills looking up Channelsea River towards Pacific Wharf.AL CREE West Ham gas works. LBN ARCHIVE Chapter 4.12 Heritage

All development should recognise the historic value of the Borough’s water spaces and ensure that their design is sensitive to the character, historic features (e.g. locks, slipways) and setting of water spaces.

Chapter 4.17 Delivery Mechanisms The Council has adopted CIL and has an associated Regulation 123 List which does not explicitly refer to water spaces, but does include some types of infrastructure associated with water spaces, such as Leisure facilities such as ‘sports facilities’, and ‘open space’. The Regulation 123 List includes the above as categories of Strategic

Infrastructure, defining this as: ‘infrastructure that is designed to serve more than Historic barge pool at Three Mills. Al Cree those residents or workers within one particular development by contributing to infrastructure improvements across the wider borough.’ 34 Channelsea & Channelsea house and GTEC house Wharves lie at the top Pacific Wharf of Bow Creek where it becomes the Channelsea River on one side of Abbey Mills Island with Abbey Creek on the other. Channelsea House/ GTEC House/Pacific Wharf Up until the chemical works were demolished, barges frequented the wharfs along here, to load and unload cargo, the ‘pool’ would have been a safe moorings for barges waiting to take on cargo.

Pacific wharf is to the south in the distance, and retains a long and usable quayside, where the old chemical works was once situated. The adjoining land narrows between river and tube tracks making it unsuitable for most residential development, but it could be perfect for land access to barge moorings. Whilst the island itself could make a great opportunity for boatyard, boathouse, cafe etc.

Channelsea house and GTEC house. AL CREE 34 Channelsea & Pacific Wharf Channelsea House/ GTEC House/Pacific Wharf

Artist’s impression of a boat moored by GTEC house. AL CREE Newham’s Local Plan Core Strategy

Pacific Wharf looking East.AL CREE 6.203 Encouraging use of the Borough’s Navigable Waterways The Council supports proposals to make more and better use of the Rivers Thames and Lea and other navigable channels for waterborne freight, leisure craft, water sports, tourism and riverbus services. The Council will support proposals for the restoration of locks, channels and

existing wharves and the creation Artist’s impression of boats moored by GTEC house. AL CREE Pacific Wharf looking West.AL CREE of new wharves and associated development in appropriate locations. There is a great opportunity around Channelsea Altogether we can see the many chances we have now, to re-use the moorings and in doing so enliven the to improve the waterscape and bring back into use water space and help to clean up this forgotten and the historic moorings assets dotted all along the river. underused reach of the Rivers. With the planning strategies already in place and a progressive direction of travel, we hope to help bring in a new vision for Bow Creek.

36 References The London Plan 2016 British Waterways Lower Association of Inland Navigation Authorities/ AINA london.gov.uk Water Space Strategy 2011 aina.org.uk queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk Lea River Park Design Manual 2016 Draft London Plan 2017 The Barge Association/DBA towerhamlets.gov.uk london.gov.uk London Legacy Development Corporation LLDC barges.org Lea River Park and Leaway Tower Hamlets Water Space Study 2017 Tower Hamlets Core Strategy 2010 queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk Residential Boat Owners Association/RBOA towerhamlets.gov.uk towerhamlets.gov.uk rboa.org.uk Olympic Legacy Waterways Framework 2013 GLA Moorings on London’s Waterways 2013 Tower Hamlets Core Strategy canalrivertrust.org.uk Cody Dock london.gov.uk Proposed Modifications 2018 codydock.org.uk towerhamlets.gov.uk Cody Dock Masterplan Planning Design and Residential use of Inland Waterways 2011 access Statement 2017. Ref no: 17/03659/OUT Thames 21 aina.org.uk Newhams Core Strategy 2013 pa.newham.gov.uk thames21.org.uk newham.gov.uk Safeguarded Wharves Review 2005 & 2018 Canal and Rivers Trust/C&RT Peter Marshal london.gov.uk Review of Housing needs for canalrivertrust.org.uk river-lea.co.uk Caravans and Houseboats 2016 Draft London Mooring Strategy Oct 2017 gov.uk Authority/PLA Mike Seaborne canalrivertrust.org.uk pla.co.uk mikeseaborne.co.uk IWA Policy on Residential Mooring 2014 waterways.org.uk Inland Waterways Association/IWA waterways.org.uk

surge co-op

Surge Co-operative, June 2018 surgeco-op.co.uk 36 surge co-op

Surge Co-operative, June 2018 surgeco-op.co.uk

Barges at Bow Locks. PETER MARSHALL 37