Surbiton: Former Victorian waterworks may be developed into park

A former Victorian waterworks next to the River Thames in south London may be developed into a public park.

Seething Wells filter beds in Surbiton were used to provide clean water to the capital and is now a key conservation site (SINC) in Kingston-upon-Thames.

The 19th century site was decommissioned by Thames Water in 1992.

Cascina Limited, which owns the site, has launched a public consultation on proposals to turn it into a public park with underground employment space.

The proposed park could also include meadows, playgrounds, picnic areas and cycling tracks. It could also have an underground employment space.

In October last year, Wimbledon Magistrates' Court ordered Cascina Limited to carry out maintenance work to the site, remove rubbish and overgrowth, and contribute £12,000 to Kingston Council's legal fees within 12 months.

In April last year its plans for a pontoon to moor commercial, residential and leisure boats was rejected by Kingston-upon-Thames Borough Council.

The year before, the council also turned down an application for "storage" on the site.

A website outlining the newly proposed scheme, referred to as Surbiton Riverside, said the site had 10 acres of open space which could provide a "perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life".

It added: "Surbiton as it is today grew alongside London's expanding railway network.

"This growth was greatly focussed on meeting London's economic needs with less regard to the importance of green space and the wider wellbeing of those communities.

"Larger areas of Surbiton today are identified as having a lack of quality open space."

It called the plan a "great opportunity" to create this "high quality open space".

The proposals are in an early stage, with further details due at a later date.

A Cascina spokesperson said it was carrying out the initial consultation to establish what residents wanted to see in the proposed park.

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