Proposal to transform Thames Water depot into community park unveiled by charity

The plans include swimming ponds and a gradient design. Photograph: ELWP

A charity has given underrepresented communities a voice as it developed proposals for a new community-owned park.

East London Waterworks Park (ELWP) has now published its Inclusive Design Proposal, which it hopes to build on the site of a former Thames Water depot on Lea Bridge Road. The plans for the biodiverse park features a graduated design, a cafe and wild swimming ponds.

The proposal is the result of four years of discussion with groups which the charity says are historically underrepresented in development consultations. ELWP spoke to more than 100 participants from a range of backgrounds, including young offenders, homeless people, and women and girls from the local Haredi (orthodox Jewish) community. The aim of the research was to ensure the park would be as accessible as possible to all.

The former Thames Water depot on Lea Bridge Road. Photograph: ELWP

“We learnt through the process of these organisational interviews about how to listen to people, and why to listen to them,” said Nathan Miller, a trustee. “People want to be involved in the co-design of the community, but often aren’t given the opportunity.”

ELWP approached organisations working with underrepresented communities and paid them to participate in research workshops in a scheme dubbed The Listening Project. While three of the groups approached declined to participate, 22 agreed.

From the findings organisers developed three main priorities for the park; “feeling safe”, “wellbeing” and “belonging”. These principles were then used to inform a set of design suggestions, ranging from sensitive lighting to opportunities for exercise, and planting to make both people and wildlife feel welcome.

Miller said the response to the proposal from the wider community has been positive. 

“There is a huge amount of joy in how people respond to you giving them a sense of agency,” he said.

The Listening Project heard from traditionally underrepresented communities. Photograph: ELWP

ELWP’s campaign to buy the 14-acre site – currently managed by the Department of Education – has been ongoing since 2019. The ELWP registered as a charity in June 2022, and by February 2023 had crowdfunded half a million pounds to purchase the site. 

In January 2024, volunteers were told London Councils wanted to build a secure home for children there instead, with a spokesperson describing it as the “only suitable site for this facility”. As of August 2024, proceedings have been indefinitely delayed and a new timeline for planning applications hasn’t yet been announced.

Regardless of the outcome, Miller believes that the information gained from ELWP’s research holds “resonance beyond our specific project” and offers “valuable takeaways for developers, politicians and policymakers” about how people from all walks of life interact with green spaces.

London Councils has been approached for comment.