Kingston Council and Kingston First continue plans to create attractive riverside space at Eagle Brewery Wharf in Kingston
Kingston Council and Kingston First are continuing their partnership to transform Eagle Brewery Wharf on Kingston’s riverside into a place where everyone can unwind, enjoy and connect with nature.
A design team will be appointed by early January 2023 who will build on previous feedback with the local community and businesses to develop designs for engagement and approval in Autumn 2023.
In 2021 local landscape architects Davies White were appointed to develop initial concepts for Eagle Brewery Wharf working closely with local businesses, residents and stakeholders. The feedback given as part of the extensive engagement in 2021 will be the focus of this next design phase, and included themes around being welcoming, accessible to all, nature enhancing and better connecting the site to the town centre.
Cllr John Sweeney, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Regeneration at Kingston Council, said:
“It is great to be providing more opportunities for everyone to enjoy the spaces that Kingston has to offer, particularly at a time when physical and mental wellbeing are so important.
“I’m delighted that we are progressing with this scheme that will not only look to create a relaxing and accessible open space along the riverside, but will also encourage people into our town centre, which is what we all want."
Kirsten Henly, Chief Executive, Kingston First, said:
“This is a fantastic project to transform a unique space on Kingston’s riverside into a place for everyone to access, enjoy and experience.
“Following feedback and engagement with local businesses, residents and visitors we’ve got plenty of ideas to build on and take forward into this next phase of development. I’m looking forward to working with the community to really make Eagle Brewery Wharf a special place and I encourage everyone to get involved.”
Communities will be invited to get involved through numerous sessions and workshops which will commence in Spring 2023. Details will be published on Kingston Council and Kingston First’s website.
This initiative is part of Kingston town’s public realm strategy; Reimagining Kingston Town Centre’s Streets and Spaces which was completed in collaboration with Kingston First, Kingston Council, Kingston University and the GLA. The strategy sets out a blueprint for how public spaces could be invested in to improve the experience of Kingston, encourage more people to move around all parts of the town and ensure that the town’s culture, heritage and riverside assets continue to be developed. It also feeds into the work currently underway which looks at how we shape the future of the town centre and surrounding area; A Plan for Kingston Town Centre Area.
The Eagle Brewery Wharf project is part of the council’s wider heritage-led ‘Transform Kingston’ regeneration programme, which looks to reinvigorate and reshape the town centre to make it even better for residents, local businesses, students and visitors.
These significant public realm improvements are an extension of the work being done to reduce anti-social behaviour on the Eagle Brewery Wharf site. In the last few years, the council has put a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in place to give them and the local police power to regulate activities in the area, as well as partnered more closely with establishments along the riverside to increase people’s enjoyment of the space.