London Riverside Parklands
Where
Linking Rainham Marshes in the east to green open spaces along
the riverside to a new park at East Beckton beside the proposed
Thames Gateway bridge.
Key figures
- 132,500 square metres of additional green space
- Eight hectares of brownfield land recovered
- LTGDC investment: £7m.
About the area
The medieval marshlands around Rainham are the largest remaining
wetlands in the upper reaches of the Thames Estuary.
They are home to lapwing, redshank and snipe, as well as
important numbers of wintering wildfowl, waders, finches and birds
of prey - including peregrine falcons – and one of the largest
populations of water voles in the country.
They include areas of special scientific interest and were
designated a Thames Gateway Environment Flagship Project in
2003.
LTGDC projects
Our intention is to incorporate the existing Rainham Marshes in
a network of open spaces throughout the London Riverside area
including significant amounts of land currently used as landfill
for rubbish disposal.
A new Cross River park is planned for East Beckton and
Thamesmead at either end of the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge and
the Barking Arc parkland will run from the revitalised town centre
through the new Barking Riverside development to the Thames. The
Rainham Marshes area will cover 645 hectares and be known as
Wildspace for a World City, capable of attracting one million
visitors a year.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, backed by TV
ornithologist Bill Oddie, already runs a nature reserve part funded
by LTGDC, English Heritage and our partner organisations.
A visitor centre is open and a 'green tram' route is proposed to
link Rainham and Purfleet villages, connecting to five kilometres
of traffic free pedestrian and cycle paths and bridleways for horse
riding.
The tram scheme is one of a raft of proposals for the second
phase of development, due to begin in 2008. Car parks at the
termini could also be used on weekdays as park and ride stops for
commuters using the C2C train services into central London – thus
reducing traffic congestion on the A13.