How we heard you: the consultation and our Royal Docks Public Realm Programme
Last year, we spoke to thousands of people in the Royal Docks about what you’d like to see change in the area. We also published an ambitious public realm framework setting out where we, the Royal Docks Team, will be focusing interventions over the next 20 years.
But how do the two connect? And what’s next? Here are some ways we’re turning your feedback into action. You can read the full framework for more detail.
Through routes
“We need connections between north and south of the docks.”
“I don’t want to be knocked over, so I don’t cycle! I drive everywhere.”
Enjoyable ways to travel on foot or by bike across the docks, along Silvertown Way, to Beckton, to bike by the Thames, or walk peacefully free from the rumble of HGVs; these were key desires that came up. In response, in partnership with Newham Council we’re rebalancing Silvertown Way and North Woolwich Road from a highway where traffic dominates into a place to spend time. Expect to see traffic calming and soft landscaping as we upgrade this space. Connaught Crossing is also in line for transformation. Local street improvements are on the list for North Woolwich. Crossing Royal Albert Way and connecting Royal Albert Dock with Beckton is a priority. But improvements aren’t confined to the future; Brompton Bikes have just opened a hire station for their foldable bikes at Royal Victoria Dock, and a second one will follow later in the summer at Royal Albert DLR.
Water for everyone to enjoy
“This water is underused and perfect for a floating lido. These appear across Europe and are an excellent way to get better use of large inaccessible areas of urban water. Think London Fields Lido on water!”
“Ensuring space is protected to rig boats and protecting a clear route to the pontoons is essential.”
Water, water everywhere and it’s for us all to enjoy. We’re transforming both the dock edge and the expanses of the docks themselves to fill these places with life and activity. Don’t rush out in a swimming costume yet — plans are at an early stage — but some ideas under consideration include a floating lido, a platform for activities at Royal Victoria Dock, and floating cafes and play spaces on Pontoon Dock. We’re also focusing on a generous ‘dock loop’ route for pedestrians and cyclists that will stretch right the way around our beautiful stretches of open water. The first sign of the future? These playful benches that were installed last year in collaboration with the London Festival of Architecture.
Brighter streets
“Nearest biggest green space [is Beckton Park] but currently it is very uninspiring; can do a lot with better landscaping and better lit in the evenings.”
“There are a lot of dead spaces under bridges which are poorly lit – even in daytime.”
Safety in the evenings and at night was a theme that came up across the consultation. We’re improving lighting as a priority across our six intervention areas. That means a consistent well-lit environment along the dock edge for pedestrians, for example. This dock-edge scheme will combine low-level lighting to encourage views out onto the water, and brighter patches to pick out key spaces such as benches and meeting points. Along North Woolwich Road, we’re developing plans to declutter the current patchwork of competing schemes, making them coherent and pedestrian friendly. We’re exploring scope for joyous splashes of colour here to guide wayfinding and highlighting these with feature lighting.
What’s next
Work is already in progress on a number of public realm projects. We’re completely refurbishing Thames Barrier Park Cafe in collaboration with Made Up Collective, and preparing the land next to Royal Albert Dock to make way for the Soldier of Orange 360° theatre experience. We’re also improving the northern entrance of Beckton Park DLR and sprucing up the lawns next to Newham Dockside.
Later this year and into 2021, we will be carrying out the improvements to Thames Barrier Park that park users asked for. We’re looking into solutions to the problems with the lifts on Royal Victoria Dock footbridge, such as the feasibility of replacing them. Practical improvements to Beckton Park Park links and Connaught Crossing surface and lighting are also on the way. There’s a tree planting programme beginning this autumn, and we’re even piloting a floating garden on Royal Victoria Dock, with gardens planted by the community.
The voices of Royal Docks communities have been key in shaping our Public Realm Framework. On the broadest scale, our summer-long Join the Conversation last year asked for input with a scope as wide as the docks themselves. We’ve also engaged in location-specific workshops, such as the LFA Custom House Design Charrette and the Albert Island marina consultation in 2019, and we’ve solicited feedback on particular projects too, like the tree-planting programme and Thames Barrier Park.
Our next phase is to engage the community in the design of new public realm elements, which will feed into a set of Design Guides. We’re keen to bring in the viewpoints of everyone in the Royal Docks to bear on these plans, challenging, stretching and improving them to make this place as inclusive as possible, whatever your age, level of mobility, income bracket, ethnicity or gender – to list just a few of the many considerations in creating accessible places. Based on the feedback we receive, we will design in detail a set of lighting, landscaping and wayfinding elements to establish a consistent character across the Royal Docks and apply these designs to specific locations.
To achieve this, we’ve been consulting with local organisations now that lockdown is lifting, and hosting online events like this one about how we can make public spaces fit for everyone. Look out for the final Design Guides that we’re publishing in October — and look out for the improvements all around the area as the Royal Docks’ future takes shape.