Background
The London Borough of Wandsworth appointed us to regenerate the public space and the linear green area of Waterman’s Green, as well as improving access to the site. Project Centre provided community engagement, feasibility reports, concept to detailed designs and planning permissions.   Â
The site comprised of approximately 1,300m2. It is situated on the Putney Embankment between the River Thames and Lower Richmond Road. The existing access to Waterman’s Green was narrow and stepped, making the area inaccessible to people with disabilities and mobility concerns. The junction surface was uneven and the entrance to the pocket park was very narrow, causing flooding issues.
The objectives
Waterman’s Green had the potential to be a natural space offering relief from a busy urban area. Our proposals’ goals were to create an attractive space for residents, visitors and businesses to thrive.
Prior to the design phase, Project Centre led an extensive engagement programme with local residents, businesses and stakeholders. We found that their objectives aligned with the Council’s goals. These included revitalising the area for social and commercial activities as well as improving cycling and walking infrastructure.
Our strategy oversaw the reconfiguration of the space to open the access to the riverside walk, allowing unobstructed movement as well as improving accessibility and safety. The traffic team was responsible for redesigning the existing junction to prioritise pedestrians over vehicular movement. Our landscape and urban design team’s attentive planting and materials strategy gave a finishing touch to the project, making the space more attractive and providing it with a clear identity.
Process
Our engagement team kicked off the project, holding multiple activities:
- Online surveys
- In-person walkabouts
- Online stakeholder meetings
- Leaflets and posters delivered to 3,405 addresses within the consultation area
- Hardcopy versions of the survey to complete and return via post
The results showed that most residents supported proposals to make walking and cycling improvements as well as introducing more green areas to Waterman’s Green. The least popular idea was introducing metal steps and a children’s playground. This was discussed in the original strategy with the client, and we had to re-adapt designs according to the community’s needs. Overall, our proposals received 94% support from residents. This gave us and the Council the go ahead to proceed with the detailed design stage.
People entering the linear park used to face a series of obstacles on the footpath. To improve safety and accessibility, we replaced the existing staircase with a gentle ramp. We also removed the existing mown grass and replaced this with native tree varieties and rich ornamental planting.
To prioritise pedestrians over vehicular traffic, our traffic team redesigned the existing junction as a hinge between the embankment and the tideway platform. Our landscape and urban design team designed new furniture and amenities for people to rest and socialise along the footpath. The materials strategy was key to provide a clear identity to the space. We chose soft surface, warm colours and sustainable materials.
Our lighting team was also involved in developing a sustainable strategy, respecting the night-time ecology to avoid disturbance to the local wildlife as well as considering the users’ needs.
Outcome
Refurbishing the linear park and the access to Waterman’s Green offered a unique opportunity to create a public space for everybody. It has improved road safety as well as social gatherings, offering a space to walk, exercise and relieve emotional stress in close contact with nature. By attracting more visitors, the public space regeneration will also benefit the economy of local businesses which will experience an increased number of customers.
Our planting proposal was in line with the latest Biodiversity Net Gain guidance. We improved the habitats on site by replacing the existing mown grass with native shrubs, trees and birds and bee friendly planting. Also, the design reduced the amount of hard standing and brought a larger section of the area under planting, increasing habitat for small invertebrates. In collaboration with the Council, our team has now commissioned an ecology report to effectively measure the increase of biodiversity.
By creating an accessible and inclusive public space, the local community can enjoy the views of the river from planting beds and comfortable timber seats as well as attending the various night-life activities next to the riverbank.
Overall, the scheme was delivered on time and within budget, achieving great satisfaction from the Council and the local community.
