More than 400 local people came to Heron Wharf on Saturday to celebrate the official launch of a new public park - opening up the banks of the River Lea for the first time in generations.
The 1.5-acre park includes a network of footpaths, lawns, benches and natural habitats, providing easy access and welcoming spaces where people of all ages can visit, rest or play.
The landscape has been carefully developed to celebrate and restore biodiversity, including an open mosaic habitat with areas of rich and poor soils, and shade and light, which supports a mix of flora and fauna.
The park also hosts nature-friendly log piles and bug drums to support invertebrates.
To mark the opening, Berkeley partnered with local businesses to host a fun-packed community celebration which brought just over 400 people to the riverside to enjoy the sunny weather. Activities included Pilates, boxing and a pop-up talk show, alongside food stalls, live music, bouncy castles, face painting and an open-air cinema.
The Vision for Heron Wharf
This new park is part of the wider transformation of this 20-acre former gasworks into Heron Wharf which, once complete, will include over 2,800 homes and 90,000 sq ft of commercial and community space.
In the years ahead, the site’s 500 metres of river frontage will be fully opened up to the public and the new park will grow to 2.5 acres, including a new playspace and meadow.
Heron Wharf is being shaped as a connected, self-sustaining neighbourhood, with future plans including a grocery store, crèche, independent cafés, and a riverside pub.
Meanwhile, Berkeley’s commitment to local employment and skills has already seen over 360 people from Tower Hamlets employed on-site, with apprenticeships and STEM events supporting future talent.
This long-term investment reflects Berkeley Group’s commitment to creating welcoming places that support and strengthen the communities around them.
Harry Lewis, Divisional Land and Development Director at Berkeley Capital, said: “The park opening is a wonderful moment for everyone involved in Heron Wharf. This project is all about creating lasting benefits for the local community, reviving a part of the riverside that’s been closed off for generations and building the homes local people need.
“The park is key to our shared vision, and I want to say a huge thank you to all of our partners and the many local businesses and residents who are shaping the future of Heron Wharf.”
Berkeley Group specialises in brownfield regeneration, working closely with local communities and councils to revive underused land and create good green homes where they are needed most.
The company is the only major UK homebuilder to focus on brownfield land, as it transforms 32 of the country’s most challenging large scale sites.
Find out more about Berkeley’s approach to brownfield regeneration.