Planning approval for a 620-home development has been granted by Wandsworth Borough Council, on the site of the old Wandsworth Gasworks.
One of the last remaining undeveloped brownfield sites in Wandsworth’s town centre, it will be transformed into a verdant landscape with four main plots, supporting housing, workspace and hospitality space.
The new development will deliver 620 new homes – 40% of which are designated as affordable housing – as well as 4,250m2 of workspace and 9,000m2 of parkland.
The landscape-led masterplan design by shedkm offers a unique riverside character, inspired by the history and heritage of Wandsworth, with connection to the Wandle River.
The site, in the centre of Wandsworth, is just five minutes from Wandsworth Town station, and is well connected by road and on the cycle superhighway. The redevelopment of the gasworks site will open up key new connections between the town, the station and the Thames Riverside.
Regeneration specialists Common Projects have coordinated the team on the planning application for the site, working closely with Mitheridge and following close consultation with SGN Place, Wandsworth Borough Council and the Greater London Authority. The development has been master-planned by shedkm, with buildings designed by Carmody Groarke, MAX Architects and shedkm. The public realm has been designed by BD Landscape Architects with extensive site-wide remediation and engineering solutions by Whitby Wood.
shedkm were appointed masterplan architects, with MAX Architects responsible for the gas holder renewal at the heart of the scheme and Carmody Groarke designing one of the riverside plots. shedkm and Common ran a shortlisted architectural competition to evolve a truly collaborative process and bring the most appropriate talent to the proposed collection of buildings. In an unconventional start to a project of this scale, it was decided the site deserved several views to evolve the most appropriate vision for the community, knitted together by a consistent approach to the ground plane. Working with BD Landscape Architects, shedkm went on to mediate and lead one collective vision for the site underpinned by unique approaches to a new marker building and regeneration of the gas holder plot.
Bordered by the River Wandle, the development will significantly enhance the area’s biodiversity value, delivering over 6,500m2 of new landscapes, and completing the missing part of the 12.5-mile Wandle Trail from Croydon to Wandsworth. The reuse of the huge concrete gas holder foundations will also save the embodied carbon equivalent of over 100 new build homes.
Extensive engagement was carried out to influence the design proposals, including feedback from over 1,500 members of the public. It has resulted in a landscape-led scheme, offering significant biodiversity net gain, play space for local children, and workspaces aimed at promoting Wandsworth’s music industry. The rich musical legacy of the area will be celebrated in the new development, with dedicated space for recording, performance and other related businesses.
Francesc Cantarell, Director at shedkm, said: “We’re thrilled that Wandsworth Gasworks has received planning approval — a major step forward in bringing this ambitious vision to life. This project embodies our commitment to creating distinctive, sustainable neighbourhoods with character and purpose. With a fantastic team and continued collaboration with the local community, we’re looking forward to delivering a place that sets a new benchmark for inclusive and innovative regeneration in London.”
Steve Sanham, Founding Director at Common Projects, said: “This site has long sat empty and unused in the centre of one of the most well connected and desirable parts of London. We are proud to have been able to secure a future for the site that will benefit both existing and new residents, and provide space for the hugely important local music industry.”