Seething Wells Filter Beds
The council's position
The council recognises that there is ongoing speculation and interest in the Seething Wells site.
For clarity the current position is that:
A Section 215 Notice has been served on the site requiring the restoration of the structure and the removal of rubbish and waste from the land.
- The previous application for the redevelopment of the site was dismissed at appeal.
- No revised planning application has been received for an alternative scheme or proposal
- Any applications that are submitted will be assessed against the relevant legislation/planning policies and the Council will invite public comment in reaching a determination.
- No decision has been made by the Council to acquire the site nor is one currently anticipated.
28 October 2022
Latest news
Court supports Kingston’s demands for maintenance of Seething Wells site
Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court has ordered Cascina Limited, the owner of Seething Wells Filter Beds, to carry out overdue maintenance work to the site and contribute £12,000 to Kingston Council’s legal fees.
This latest step sees the landowner tasked with substantial maintenance of the wall and railings, as well as removing all rubbish and overgrowth from the site over the next 12 months. The order was agreed by both parties.
The 19th-century waterworks site in Surbiton, which is privately owned by Cascina, is designated as both Metropolitan Open Land and a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation due to its ecological importance.
In December 2021, the Council issued a notice requiring Cascina to undertake maintenance work to help improve the condition of the site. Cascina appealed the notice a month later, on the grounds that they were not responsible for the wall, the works required by the notice were too extensive and the period to carry out the works was too short.
The council did not accept the grounds put forward by Cascina. On 14 October 2022, Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court made an order, varying the requirements of the notice and extending the time within which Cascina must complete the works. It also ordered Cascina to contribute towards the council’s legal fees.
If the Cascina does not carry out the required works within the timeframe, they may be prosecuted by the Council.
The Notice as varied is available to download