Homes for sale near London rivers: from Lewisham to Chelsea, London's 'lost' waterways are being restored at the heart of new flats and houses

As a festival celebrates the restoration of the capital’s rivers, we find new homes along the riverbank.
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David Spittles30 June 2017

London’s rivers are to be celebrated in a week-long festival this week, until July 2. Offering more than 30 free guided walks and talks, London Rivers Week aims to connect people with their local waterway and bring them closer to nature.

The capital’s rivers have benefited from 20.5km of restoration since 2008, often due to urban regeneration projects that include waterfront housing. And while the Thames is the focus of much activity, London’s smaller rivers are also being upgraded.

The event is run by a partnership including the Greater London Authority, and London Wildlife Trust and coordinated by Thames 21 on behalf of London Rivers Restoration Group.

Lewisham’s River Ravensbourne, which runs through the town centre of the south-east borough, has been greatly improved through “rewilding”. The river is now a central feature of refurbished Ladywell Fields, partly paid for by Barratt’s Catford Green development where two-bedroom apartments cost from £495,000. Call 0844 225 0032.

FINDING 'LOST' RIVERS

There are even ambitious attempts to bring back “lost” rivers, buried for health and safety reasons when they became part of the city’s sewerage system. They include the Fleet, arguably London’s most famous hidden river. The ponds in Hampstead, fed by the Fleet, are still used for swimming. Other lost rivers include the Walbrook, the Effra and Counters Creek.

Cleaning the river: the launch event at London Rivers Week 2016 

Developer Capco plans to bring back parts of Counters Creek which flows beneath the scheme of 800 new homes at Earl’s Court, part of a masterplan by architect Sir Terry Farrell. This modern interpretation of traditional London squares is to be known as West Brompton Village and the river will form part of the extensive landscaping. Call 020 7381 9800 for more details. Prices from £1,575,000.

The River Westbourne is being celebrated at much talked-about Chelsea Barracks, where a series of garden squares with 448 homes is under way. Silently running under the site, the old river will be traced by an overground path and water sculptures, while at the centre of the scheme is a 100-metre vegetable garden with walnut trees and an apple orchard — to ensure the site is “productive as well as beautiful”, says landscape architect Kim Wilkie.

ALONG THE RIVER WANDLE

At Butter Hill in Carshalton, new wetland areas for people to explore have been created around the River Wandle. It used to be one of the most polluted rivers in England, with 68 water wheels powering tobacco, textile and brewing factories along its nine-mile route from Surrey to the Thames. However, there has been a dramatic clean-up in recent years, with fish species flourishing again and parks and nature reserves created along the riverbanks.

River Wandle: once one of the most polluted rivers in England (John Sutton www.clearwaterphotog)
John Sutton

At the Mitcham section, an old factory complex has made way for Millfields, a scheme of flats and townhouses with integral garages. Once renowned for its lavender fields and watercress beds, today Mitcham is an odd blend of bustling town, light industry and country village. In Zone 4, it has 25-minute trains to Waterloo and Victoria and eye-catchingly good-value homes. At Millfields, flats cost from 310,000, and houses from £415,000. Call Redrow on 020 8712 0594.

Cambium, on the Wandle’s banks at Southfields, offers modern, eco-friendly townhouses designed around an ancient oak tree reputedly planted by 18th-century landscape architect Capability Brown. The 110-home scheme includes an urban meadow and children’s play area. Some houses have rooftop gardens and garages. Prices from £429,950. Call Lend Lease on 0845 463 9257.

For London Rivers Week events, see thames21.org.uk/LondonRiversWeek

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