The riverside at Watermans makes the park such a special place to visit and enjoy. That is why it is important that we take an active interest in how it is developed.
It is now ten years since planning consent was granted to build 26 moorings, mostly in a herringbone pattern alongside the park from its eastern end towards the Arts Centre, together with re-landscaping works. At the time, a number of unauthorised boats were moored at Watermans, and around 700 sqm of the park was given over for a facilities building and car parking to support the moorings.
This consent pre-dated the formation of the Friends. Our approach since then has been to press for the scheme to be constructed and operated in accordance with the approved planning conditions (see previous updates). We also made clear at the time that if compliance with those conditions proved impossible, the development should not proceed giving time for a full reconsideration of the scheme.
In 2019, the Council and the Port of London Authority entered into a joint venture with Watermans Riverside Ltd (a subsidiary of Thames River Moorings, which also operated moorings at Chelsea). Under this arrangement, Watermans Riverside would build and operate the moorings, with profits shared between the parties on an undisclosed basis. The Council’s contribution was a 125-year lease of land at no rent, in return for a share of uncertain future profits.
From an early stage there were warning signs: legal disputes with residents at Chelsea over charging, overdue statutory accounts, and an Operational Management Plan that did not comply with planning conditions on vessel size and height. Although the shell of the facilities building was constructed and some river works carried out, progress was repeatedly delayed over the following six years, with multiple missed deadlines. There was no work in the river for around two years prior to summer 2025, when a further completion deadline was set.
In November 2025, Thames River Moorings entered Administration after its secured lender withdrew support. Although Watermans Riverside itself is not in Administration, it came under the control of the Administrators and the viability of the joint venture was immediately called into question. The Friends wrote to the Council urging it to act promptly to protect its position and the wider public interest. When the Administrators’ Proposals were issued in December, it became clear that no further funding would be made available to complete the moorings, and we pressed for the joint venture to be terminated. The Council reached its own conclusions and served notice to terminate the agreement for non-performance in early January 2026.
We met responsible Councillors and officers on 22 January. At that meeting we suggested that, rather than simply seeking to revive a scheme conceived ten years ago, the Council should commission a feasibility study to consider future options for the riverside at Watermans. While we recognise that financial constraints will apply, community interests are also critically important.
Such a study could explore a range of options, including a reduced scale of moorings, open views from the park, environmental and heritage outcomes (including Brentford’s wider Heritage Harbour ambitions), affordable and visitor moorings, community access and use, and different operating and ownership models — commercial, charitable or community-led — as well as interim versus longer-term approaches. Crucially, it should seek the views of local people, neighbouring residents, river users and relevant environmental and heritage experts.
It is still too early to know exactly how the joint venture arrangements will unwind, given the rights and objectives of the various parties involved. Nevertheless, we are cautiously optimistic that, once the position is clearer, the Council will be receptive to commissioning a feasibility study.
Finally, it is worth noting that the original 2016 planning consent also required re-landscaping of the park. This was delivered in winter 2021/22, with a financial contribution from the moorings developer. We would like to thank the Parks Team for their work in helping to create a much more attractive and engaging public space by the river.
If you have any comments or suggestions please do contact me.
Philip Jones
Chair, Friends of Watermans Park
chair@friendsofwatermanspark.org
28 January 2026