Lea River Park
Where
Interlinked green space from the Lee Valley Regional Park in
Hertfordshire through the Olympic Park at Stratford and continuing
south along the River Lea to the Thames.
Key figures:
- 61 hectares of open space
- 14 hectares of brownfield land brought back into use
- LTGDC investment: £33m.
About the area
The Lea River Park forms the southern end of a green corridor of
public parkland which will extend 26 miles from the Lee Valley
Regional Park in Hertfordshire through the Olympic Legacy
south to the River Thames at East India Dock Basin.
It will be an accessible recreational amenity for local people
with six fantastic new park areas linked by the Fatwalk - a linear
riverside parkland route with six kilometres of footpaths and
cycleways, new bridges and towpaths.
LTGDC projects
Prescott Lock
The construction of a new lock and water control structures at
Prescott Channel and Three Mills Wall River in Bromley-by-Bow
is being led by British Waterways and co-funded with the London
Thames Gateway Development Corporation, the London Development
Agency, the Department for Transport, the Olympic Delivery
Authority and Transport for London. The project will impound the
tidal river south of Three Mills Island and allow 24-hour
navigation of the waterways north of the structures. The works will
enable and encourage the user of water freight, including for the
construction of the Olympic Park, and leisure activities in
what will ultimately be a beautiful waterside
environment.
Lea River Park Phase 1
These projects are in the design and development stage and will
be completed by 2012.
East India Dock Basin
East India Dock Basin will become an important visitor
attraction. It will be a place where people can learn about the
significant history and ecology of the area with activities linked
to the basin’s important heritage. In addition there will be the
opportunity to attend events here, both in the basin itself
and on the Thames.
Three Mills Green
Three Mills Green will become more accessible and an attractive
public park, providing new community gardens, event space and
recreational areas with sports and play facilities for the existing
and emerging communities that surround it.
First phase of the Fatwalk
The Fatwalk will be the backbone of the Lea River Park, a
continuous new route from the River Thames at East India Dock Basin
north to the Olympic Park. It will not only connect all the new
park areas, but will be a destination in itself, a continuous
length of new parkland with activities along its length.
Lea River Park later phases
These projects will be delivered in future years as funding is
identified and operational land is released at Abbey Mills, Twelve
Trees Crescent, Leven Road and the Limmo site in Canning Town.
Mill Meads and the historic buildings at Abbey
Mills
These areas will become publicly accessible with the meads
restored as water meadows and incorporating allotments and public
routes through the historic Abbey Mills estate.
Twelve
Trees
This huge site, currently used by National Grid for gas storage,
will become a major new visitor destination for London
incorporating activities and facilities within the frames of the
listed gasholders and connecting Bromley-by-Bow with West Ham.
Poplar River Park
This new park on Leven Road will include new connections across
the river, enabling access to this park from all adjacent
communities and linking into the Fatwalk. . The park will have a
community focus, a place for learning, sport and recreation and
will provide the direct access to the river that is currently
obstructed by the existing gas holders and car compound.
Exotic Wild
A naturalised area of parkland designed to provide an unspoiled
habitat for flora and fauna. A new raised vantage point will be
created, offering far-reaching views across the Lower Lea
Valley.