Bromley-by-Bow Gasworks is one of London's most complex and fascinating brownfield regeneration projects.
The 23-acre site is home to seven Grade II Listed gasholders, built in the 1870s amid East London’s industrial expansion. The footprint of an eighth gasholder, which was bomb-damaged during the Second World War, forms a perfectly circular pond alongside its decaying neighbours.
The site was used for the storage of gas until it was decommissioned in 2010 and has been fenced off from its surroundings ever since.
St William is developing plans to revive the site and reconnect it with the local community. Outline proposals include the restoration of all seven gasholders, which would become the centrepiece of a sustainable mixed-use neighbourhood, providing new homes and a new riverside park.
These plans are being shaped through a far-reaching community engagement programme, which has seen more than 270 people and community groups visit the site during a series of tours, including ‘sketch and walk’ events with local artists and guided heritage walks led by a local historian. The site was opened up for the 2022 and 2023 Newham Heritage Month, and St William engaged with more than 300 young people living locally through a mix of careers events and workshops.
There have been public exhibitions, drop-in consultations, one-to-one meetings with local stakeholders and a dedicated website. This pro-active approach has helped St William meet a wider range of local people and gain a deeper understanding of what local communities care about.
Berkeley Group believe community engagement is the vital first step towards creating a place of lasting character, benefit and beauty, and Bromley-by-Bow Gasworks is a fantastic example.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the engagement programme so far and to our project team partners at RSHP, Gillespies, Iceni Projects, Quod, Montagu Evans and Temple Group Ltd.
Read more about the project here.