Convoy's Wharf - Concept

The River Thames is London’s central artery, historically supplying the city’s commercial and industrial life blood. Over the last century, the river has lost its place as the focus for the city’s activities, however Convoys Wharf holds the opportunity to reunite Londoners with the river, and to restore dignity to a historical part of London’s working waterfront.

Following a period of public consultation, a number of options were produced to define the key design, social and commercial objectives. Among these were the creation of a unique and distinctive new district for London; the improvement of local public transport connections; the reversal of the decline of the riverfront; the provision of a wide range of high density living, working, recreation and educational uses; and to ensure that activity and street life are maintained at all times.

In effect, these strategies will open up the site, bringing Deptford High Street up to the Thames, transforming the accessibility of the river, and creating a new heart in the neglected northern sector of the borough. This will create an employment-led regeneration process, allowing Convoys Wharf to thrive as a mixed-use neighbourhood, balancing employment, culture, residential, educational, retail and leisure activities.

Key points

The site itself is highly visible from the river, although conversely it currently exists in a state of almost total isolation, with a three metre high wall surrounding the site on three sides. Over the last century, the river has lost its place as the focus for the city’s activities, however Convoys Wharf holds the opportunity to reunite Londoners with the river, and to restore dignity to a historical part of London’s working waterfront.

A number of consultants were involved in the development of the masterplan including Montagu Evans (Planning Consultants), Buro Happold (Transport & Civil Engineering), CGMS (Archaeology), Faithful and Gould (Quantity Surveyors), Planning Aid for London (Public Consultation), Mungo Tennant (Development Consultant), RAA (Cultural Advisors) and Voaden Sandbrook (wharf and waste recycling consultants).

A historically significant but now somewhat derelict brownfield site, the masterplan includes public spaces such as the ‘high street’, the riverside walk, the main square and the creation of an historic route linking the dry dock to Sayes Court Garden via John Evelyn House to provide a focus for the development.

 
 

 

Copyright © 2010 Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. All rights reserved.