Maximum Size of Watermans Boats Reduced

Thames River Society and Friends of Watermans Park secure changes to Marina Operations

Watermans Park

In April the River Thames Society had filed objections to planning documentation that did not fully satisfy the planning conditions for the Watermans Marina.   The Friends Group also filed an objection to the Operational Management Plan which would have permitted extra-wide multi-storey houseboats of up to 30m in length with a beam of up to 8m and no height restrictions to dominate and block the view from the park and have an impact on the River not considered in the planning modelling. 

The River Thames Society and Friends Group are pleased to note that their key concerns about the Operational Management Plan have now been addressed.  The revised requirements of a maximum beam of 5m and air draft (height above water) of 4m are now in accordance with River Thames Society guidance.

Briefly, the Friends Group is concerned to ensure:

1. Enhancements to the Park are seen as an integral element of the overall development at the Park that includes the marina.  Detailed plans, when available, should be as at least as ambitious as set out in the 2016 planning documentation. 
2. The Council is open about the financial arrangements for the marina development which they consider could and should be disclosed together with broad expectations of the financial benefits to satisfy a genuine interest that the negotiated contracts are in the best interests of the Borough.
3. That the history of the site, both ancient and industrial, is drawn to the attention of users of the Park.
4. If CW9 (previously Cycle Superhighway 9) passes through the Park there are mitigating improvements for users other than cyclists.

Appropriate planning consent conditions for the marina development need to be satisfied and the development started by 19 May 2019, without disturbing nesting herons, otherwise the planning consent will lapse.

Full details can be found in the newly issued newsletter from The Friends Group which can be found at https://e-voice.org.uk/fowp.

May 10, 2019