Cremorne Wharf is set to be transformed into a temporary public park, offering residents a new green space for five years.
The Kensington and Chelsea Council's Planning Applications Committee granted permission for the change of use of the safeguarded wharf from its current waste management function to a public open space on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
The proposal includes the creation of distinct zones for play, informal sports, and social areas. The existing concrete surface will be retained and painted to delineate these areas, with movable structures, planting, and seating incorporated. Specifically, the park will feature seating, planting, trees, play equipment, and informal sport facilities. A new pedestrian link to the Thames Path will be created by demolishing part of the western boundary wall.
The decision to grant planning permission was made subject to conditions and a legal agreement. These measures are designed to ensure the temporary nature of the park, protect existing infrastructure, and facilitate the site's eventual reinstatement for its original wharf use. The park will be covered by Parks Police patrols and will have staff, including a park keeper. The design incorporates lighting along main access routes and natural surveillance from neighbouring buildings, with a second point of access/exit also included.
Concerns raised by the Port of London Authority regarding the safeguarded status of the wharf were addressed by officers, who recommended a temporary five-year permission and a method statement for reinstatement. A pending legal agreement will also ensure continued access for Thames Water and aid in the future reactivation of the wharf for freight handling. The Heads of Terms for this legal agreement also aim to secure unfettered public access over the riverside path should an onward connection to the east become available, and to secure the delivery of the new south-western pedestrian access to the open space. Furthermore, it will ensure emergency access to the Thames Tideway Tunnel and associated Thames Water infrastructure is available if required.
During the meeting, councillors discussed aspects such as the planting, which will be in movable planters due to restrictions from the Thames Tideway Tunnel. The biodiversity net gain was confirmed to meet the required 10% enhancement, and the standard of imported soils was reviewed for land contamination.
Consultation with local residents was described as robust, with ward councillors actively engaging the community. No objections were received from the public.
The committee's decision aligns with Local Plan Policy GB15, which supports the creation of a meanwhile open space at the wharf until it is brought back into wharf use. The London Plan also permits temporary uses on safeguarded wharves, provided they do not hinder future reuse for waterborne freight handling.
After the five-year period, a Method Statement for Reinstatement will be submitted and approved, detailing the process and program for removing temporary structures and making the land available for its former safeguarded wharf use. The full reinstatement is suggested to take between 4 to 8 weeks. The legal agreement will also incorporate a strategy for the reactivation of the wharf for waterborne freight handling.
