Lewisham Rivers Presentation Lewisham Rivers Presentation

Michael Forrester / Helen Milner

Lewisham’s Rivers

• River Thames frontage

• Deptford Creek

• Ravensbourne

• Quaggy - Lewisham

• Kid Brooke – Lee Green /

Blackheath

• Pool River - Sydenham

Regeneration and Growth Areas

• Where highest development pressure is

Planning Policy

How to do it NPPF para 109 “The Planning System should contribute to

and enhance the natural and local environment by

protecting and enhancing valued landscapes”.

Pre-application / Planning Performance Agreement

- Promote importance of river/ waterfront

- Ensure engagement with the Environment

Agency/ Port of London Authority/ Local

Stakeholders

- Secure this within PPA

Securing improvement

• S106 – restrict commencement and

occupation.

• Conditions

Deptford Creek

Current situation and challenges

•Inaccessible riverfront

•Previously/ current industrial uses

•Developments turn their back to

the river

• Development pressures

•What is a Creek?

Kent Wharf

Sun Wharf

Faircharm

The vision – Deptford Creekside Charette

•Not part of the Development Plan but is used to inform

development.

•Promotes long term use and management of the Creek –

access/ moorings/ transport

•Promotes river as a ‘layer’ within development, rather than an

obstacle or constraint.

•Successful masterplan

achieved at Kent and Sun

Wharf– public access

•Faircharm – new routes

through to the Creek

•Landscaping appropriate

to creek setting

•Continuous un-gated creek

side access.

•Provides space for the EA

to maintain flood defences.

•New homes and

commercial floorspace

Kent and Sun Wharves and Faircharm

Lewisham Gateway

Current situation

• The confluence of the Rivers is within

the centre of Lewisham where there

are many competing demands on

space

• Where the rivers are not culverted

they are neither accessible or

integrated within the public realm.

• The river channels could/should

contribute more to the natural

environment

The vision – Lewisham Gateway

Vision:

Create an area of urban regeneration that interacts with the natural

environment. This kind of relationship does not exist in Lewisham at

present. The area’s most significant natural feature, the confluence

between the River Quaggy with the River Ravensbourne, is hidden

as it lies 4m below existing ground levels.

Gateway

•Links the stations with

Lewisham town centre

•New pedestrian-friendly routes

to the north and west

•Opening up the rivers Quaggy

and Ravensbourne to create an

attractive riverside park –

Confluence Place

•New light, open and safe shop-

lined pedestrian routes