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Thamesmead, London SE28 - Redevelopement of social spaces, lakes

and canals

Thamesmead was a civic housingdevelopment project undertaken by theGreater London Council Departmentof Architecture and Civic Design (thepublishers of this plan). Thamesmeadwas the most ambitious post-war socialhousing development in London. The projectdeveloped marsh land, previously used asweaponry storage, south of the Thames Riverin a multi-stage housing project. Thamesmeadwas to combine urban living, both owned andrented, with shops, schools, and park space.

There were many master-plans developed forThamesmead in the 1960's by the GLC butthe most likely plan to go ahead was broughtforward in 1967. The plan was selectedbecause of its social diversity and possibilitiesfor economic growth. The plan focuses onbalancing the community with building goodquality neighbourhoods, good pedestrianconnections, getting the most out of greenspaces, conserving nature reserves andgenerating a dynamic local economy.

Thamesmead Google Maps 2012

Thamesmead: Gallions Reach Urban Developement location

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Thamesmead Master Plan Model 1 taken from Thamesmead - a Riverside Developmentpublished by the GLC 1967

Thamesmead Master Plan Model 2 taken from Thamesmead - a Riverside Developmentpublished by the GLC 1967

Initial plans put all push heavily towards making Central Thamesmead anInternational Yacht harbour as the central feature of the new community.

Visual it would have created a balance between the housing structure onthe south side of the Thames and the industrial factories on the North bankof the Thames.

Thamesmead Lakes are a very peaceful environment and aresometimes used for sailing, all lakes are connected by canals winch areused for canoeing with pedestrian routes on each bank.

Southmere Lake is the most popular lake for sailing and has acommunity boat club which teaches sailing, Canoeing and Kayaking.

Panorama - Southmere Lake taken from north bank

LakesSouthmere Lake

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Arches Community Centre on north bank of Southmere Lake

Southmere Lave View facing South

Thamesmead West

I am interested in developing a programme which makes use of the

boating community for this reason I have looked at other possible areaswhich may be more interesting to work with.

Thamesmead west was not build by theGLC becasue it was abolished in 1986,its housing assets and the remainingundeveloped land were vested in anon-profit organisation, ThamesmeadTown Limited (TTL). In 2000, TTL waswound down and two new organisationswere formed. In broad terms, GallionsHousing Association took over theownership and management of the

housing assets whilst Tilfen, laterTilfen Land, took over the remainingundeveloped land. Tilfen is jointly ownedby Gallions and Trust Thamesmead.which developed the remaining parts ofThamesmead West and Thamesmead.

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Area of focus

The riverside of Thamesmead Westhas been developed heavily over thelast 10 years unfortunately in 2008

all the new houses and riverside flatsdriopped in price heavily but withthe new Royal Woolwich Arsenaldevelopments and the new Crossrail

extension thisng are expected to turnaround very soon.

Old Iron Pier

The Old Iron Pier is in very bad

condition, the original bridge to connectthe pier to the land no longer exists butthe pier itself still remains as an island.

Royal Woolwich Arsenal

Iron Pier

Iron Pier

Coaling Pier

Coaling Pier

Thamesmead West

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