THE TWICKENHAM RIVERSIDE DEVELOPMENT: INTRODUCTION

The working group has explored a combination of ways in which the site can be developed so as to grace its riverside position, serve as a significant leisure facility for Twickenham and contribute to the commercial well-being of the town centre.

A number of themes are common to the options that are examined in detail in this section of the report.

• Improve the ambience of the riverside. The last few years have seen a growth throughout Britain of a "Mediterranean" style of living, with outside activities becoming more common and diverse. The Twickenham riverside is already much used by visitors who like the buzz of being by the river, but much can be used to make the place more attractive, such as open space that has multiple uses; an improved Embankment; facilities and events that appeal to all sections of the population; a safe environment that encourages use by day and night.

• Increase the number of visitors. The riverside can help attract visitors to Twickenham and help those who arrive for other purposes to spend more time and money in Twickenham. In this regard, improvements to the ambience and new riverside resources such as a Riverside Centre, restaurants and bars and a pontoon for river users are important.

• Support the Thames Landscape Strategy. This is a strategy for conserving the Thames landscape and environment between Hampton and Kew. It has a lot to say about Twickenham and its working riverfront, and many of its recommendations are incorporated in our proposals.

• Support the local community. There is no merit in a riverside development that has the net effect of destroying the existing local community. Unless the issue is sensitively dealt with, there is a real possibility that the traditional boatyards, a long-established rowing club, and the shops in Church Street could become luxury flats and "life style" shops.

The working party has concentrated on public open spaces and assets, leaving the developer to propose enabling commercial utilities. The group has identified the opportunities and evaluated them. The studies of each has been carried out more thoroughly than reported in the interim report of June, 1999. However, it has not been possible to reach firm conclusions about what was then referred to as the "Living Thames Centre". Much detailed work has been done in developing the vision and concept, but more is required to determine the size, content and viability of the Centre.

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