At Chelsea Embankment we have created a new area of public space by the river, for everyone to enjoy.  Parts of the new space here will be ‘floodable’ at high tides, giving Londoners the first opportunity of its kind to dip their toe in a cleaner River Thames.

The new space has enhanced the existing embankment and extends into the river, providing a place to pause and enjoy the additional visual connection with the Thames. Lighting is integrated into architecture and landscape, with differently coloured lighting on the ventilation columns to signify the tide coming in (add colour) and going out (add colour).  

There is level access, with varied seating provided to cater for different needs, including space at the end of benches for wheelchair users to sit alongside. The lower areas of the site are not fully accessible but views are afforded over the threshold. The brick paving provides a consistent smooth surface across the space and tactile strips denote changes in levels.

The new space has extended the Thames Path and we have made other improvements to the path, including improving the paving around the Bull Ring on the north side of the road. The listed cast iron Lion’s Foot lamp standard designed by Bazalgette along the existing river wall have been retained and refurbished.

The new public space promotes biodiversity, too. Intertidal terraces to the east and west of the site, planted with native species, including rushes, grasses, sedge, sea aster and irises that can withstand the tidal action of the river and salt water, will provide refuge, spaces to feed and nest for a variety of birds, small mammals and fish. The textured river wall also provides a surface for algae and river weed to establish.

The space also has an integrated artwork by Florian Roithmayr – see panel below for details.