Lewisham’s Rivers
• River Thames frontage
• Deptford Creek
• Ravensbourne
• Quaggy - Lewisham
• Kid Brooke – Lee Green /
Blackheath
• Pool River - Sydenham
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
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
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.