Policy RT2
Access to the Thames Riverside and foreshore
The council will seek accessible and inclusive public access to the riverside, including through-site links when riparian development takes place and the provision and enhancement of the Thames Path National Trail (the riverside walk). It will also seek the retention and enhancement of access to and from the foreshore in development schemes where it is appropriate and safe to do so and will promote enjoyment of riverside heritage assets and open spaces.
- All development proposals alongside or adjacent to the River Thames should:
a) retain existing public access to the riverside and along the river
b) enhance existing public access to the riverside where improvements are feasible
c) where possible provide new accessible and inclusive public access to the riverside
d) where appropriate and safe to do so, maintain and enhance existing access to and from the foreshore; and
e) provide riparian lifesaving equipment where required and necessary.
- The riverside walk should generally be at least 6 metres wide and should be accessible to cyclists if this can be achieved without risk to the safety of pedestrians or river users.
10.8 The council has for many years been seeking to open up the riverside and river for greater public access. This includes through-site links in new riverside development, and the provision of an accessible and safe access way along the whole length of the riverside as part of the Thames Path National Trail (see policy RT1 – River Thames).
Riverside walk
10.9 New sections of the river walk will normally be achieved when redevelopment of riverside land takes place, and its provision is specifically set out in the Policy for South Fulham Riverside Regeneration Area and Site Allocations. Elsewhere, development will still be expected to incorporate construction of the riverside walk, and in instances where development creates a direct need to improve or enhance an existing section of the riverside walk, planning conditions may be imposed or developer contributions sought.
10.10 Although priority will be given to pedestrians so that they may benefit from the many opportunities that walking can give, the council wishes to encourage cycling, and the riverside walk can also provide a traffic-free route for cyclists. Measures will be taken to reduce pedestrian/cyclist conflicts, for example by providing separate paths where appropriate, or measures to slow cyclists. The council also accepts that the design of the riverside walk should respect and enhance the natural character of the river wherever possible e.g. by use of planted embankments. However, it should also embrace the industrial heritage of the river so that visitors can learn about the river's past. The council's Riverside Walk Enhancement Report 2010 provides details of opportunities for improving the riverside walk.
Access to the foreshore
10.11 Access to the foreshore, which is primarily in the ownership of the Port of London Authority, can have a recreational and educational value. There is a right of access for fishing, navigational and other customary purposes, but public access must be considered in the context of the environmental and archaeological importance of the foreshore and particularly safety considerations, bearing in mind the fast tidal flows affecting this part of the River Thames.
Riverside development
10.12 Development bordering the river has an important role to play in access to the foreshore. Some sites may include drawdocks, slipways, steps, stairs, piers, pontoons, ladders, chains or other infrastructure enabling access to and from the river and its foreshore. It is important that these are retained, kept in good repair or added to as appropriate, and planning conditions may be used to ensure this happens. The profile of the river bank may also have a bearing on ease of access to and away from the foreshore, and on the protection of environmental interests, while mutual visibility between development sites and the foreshore is also an important aid to public safety. These are matters that will be taken into account when considering the design of developments bordering the river.
10.13 All new riverside developments should incorporate appropriate riparian life-saving equipment as necessary. This includes, but is not limited to edge protection, lifebuoys and clear safety signage. Measures should align with best practice guidance, including the Port of London Authority's A Safer Riverside (2020), and demonstrate how safety measures have been integrated into the overall scheme without compromising visual amenity or public access.
River stakeholders
10.14 Consultation with the Port of London Authority, the Environment Agency and other stakeholders will be undertaken on all proposals concerned with or affecting access to the riverside and the foreshore.