Seething Wells Filter Beds project
Kingston upon Thames councils are currently discussing reduced reporting frequency for the Seething Wells Filter Beds project, following Historic England's refusal of heritage listing.
Reporting on the Seething Wells Filter Beds, a Victorian public health infrastructure site, to the Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee will now occur annually, reduced from three times a year. This change was noted by the Place Committee in September 2026, which stated that many recommendations from the All Party Working Group have been completed or exhausted. Councillor Andrew Wooldridge, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Economic Development and Planning Policy, said attention to the site will not diminish.
Historic England declined applications for statutory listing of the Seething Wells Filter Beds, the Former Chelsea Waterworks Drainage Pumping House, and the Former Chelsea Waterworks Boundary Railings in January 2026. Historic England stated the site's current circumstances did not meet criteria for prioritising designation resources, according to a report to the Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee in February 2026. Landowners are considering an appeal and development for housing.
The council submitted listing applications to Historic England in March 2025, following ongoing discussions with landowners and an annual update to the Place Committee in September 2025. The site, in private ownership since the early 1990s, is within the Riverside South Conservation Area. The Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee will continue to consider the site annually.
Key facts
- Reporting on the Seething Wells site to the Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee was reduced to annual in September 2026. Source
- Historic England declined heritage listing applications for the site on 15 January 2026. Source
- The Place Committee noted in September 2026 that many All Party Working Group recommendations are completed. Source
- Landowners are considering an appeal and development for housing at the site. Source 1 Source 2
- The council submitted listing applications to Historic England in March 2025. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.