Sir Sadiq Khan on Wednesday announced his 10-year plan to clean up the capital’s rivers, which he said had suffered from "decades of neglect and pollution". A total of £1.8 billion has been pledged by water companies, boroughs and charities, with City Hall adding a further £2.7 million across three years on top of the £13.6 million already promised.
Ten locations for swift progress
The money will be used to build new parks, clean up waterways and improve wildlife habitats. Sir Sadiq told the Standard: “We've identified 10 locations across our city where we want to see swift progress. Swift progress in reducing pollution, swift progress in reviving nature, but also swift progress in revitalising and restoring access for local communities to those blue and green spaces.”
The ten areas which will receive cash are:
- Barnet, Brent, Harrow, Ealing, Hounslow – River Brent: Sewage pollution will be minimised by removing incorrectly installed plumbing pipes, alongside new opportunities for walking and a better environment for wildlife in the West London Regional Park, a new marathon-length park spanning four London boroughs.
- Harrow, Hillingdon – Yeading Brook: A major rewilding programme will be introduced to restore the brook to a more natural state, creating a biodiverse riverbank.
- Enfield, Haringey, Waltham Forest – Upper Lea Valley: Sections of lost rivers are set to be restored alongside a natural, sustainable drainage system to reduce river pollution and flood risk.
- Newham, Tower Hamlets – Lower Lea Valley and Royal Docks: The waterfront will be restored to improve access for water sports, including swimming.
- Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham – Grand Union Canal: Canal towpaths and the waterside will be regenerated to enable better access to the canal and more water based sports and activities.
- Enfield – Salmons Brook and Pymmes Brook: Wetlands will be created to reduce pollution and risk of flooding.
- Newham, Barking and Dagenham – River Roding: Access to the riverside will be improved, alongside habitat restoration and water quality monitoring.
- Croydon, Bromley, Lewisham – Ravensbourne catchment: Wildlife habitats and improve access along the river, restoring sections of the river to its natural state.
- Croydon, Wandsworth, Sutton, Merton – Wandle catchment: The rare chalk stream in the Wandle Valley Regional Park will be restored and the riverbank restored, creating fish superhighways, improving public access and exploring opportunities to restore lost rivers.
- Hounslow, Richmond – Lower Crane Valley: A new 40km riverside trail is set to be created, while the river will be cleaned up and restored to its natural state.
