A “floating park” and lido form the centrepiece of the latest bid to regenerate the Royal Docks in east London.
The new vision comes from Royal Docks Waterways, a not-for-profit quango charged with managing and developing the area for the Greater London Authority.
Parts of the docks alongside City Hall are already used for water sports. The latest idea is to build the capital’s first “large-scale floating park” at the western end of Royal Victoria Dock, the strip of water nearest to City Hall.
This would include a “floating wellness” area including a lido, sauna and spa, plus more free open-water swimming in the docks, in response to the belief that cold-water swimming promotes good health.
A boardwalk-style “floating park” would be built alongside the edges of the dock, creating a place for people to “meet, relax and engage with culture”.
And canal narrowboats would be welcomed to the area to create a waterside residential community of residential moorings and floating homes.
Royal Docks Waterways believes the first changes can be delivered before 2030. It says success will be measured by "more people getting wet every day".
London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: “The transformation of Royal Victoria Dock West is a major opportunity for Newham and for London as a whole, creating what will become one of the city’s most exciting new public spaces.
“I’m committed to transforming our waterways – cleaning them up, enabling wildlife to thrive and improving Londoners’ access to blue spaces across the city.
“Royal Docks Waterways’ work will help to ensure that Londoners can experience clean and safe waterways and enjoy the benefits of spending time near water, helping to build a greener and fairer London for everyone.”
The aim is to make the Royal Docks more of a visitor destination. At present, the biggest draws are the Excel conference centre and the IFS Cloud cable car across the Thames.
The area is served by the Elizabeth line at Custom House station. Last April, the Silvertown tunnel opened.
But wider aspirations to revitalise the dockside area for housing and employment have struggled to take off for years, despite several masterplans.
Scott Derben, managing director of Royal Docks Waterways, said: “This vision represents the biggest step change in the management and development of the Royal Docks since they were closed to commercial shipping at the end of 1981.
“Now, 45 years later, our goal is that the docks that used to feed London will be used to nurture its inhabitants.”
The Royal Docks were built between 1855 and 1921, and include the Royal Victoria Dock, Royal Albert Dock and King George V Dock.
The freehold of the Royal Docks - which contain approximately 250 acres of water - is owned by the GLA.
At their peak, the three docks together formed the largest enclosed dock system in the world.
Stakeholders and residents will be invited to comment on the plans over the coming weeks, including at a drop-in event on a 100-year-old Thames sailing barge, Will, on March 7-8.
Revealed: Sadiq Khan's 6% London fares hike will cost passengers a staggering £168million a year
Row as arms firm 'wins £1.5bn TfL contract' to run Oyster and Contactless ticketing system
Picture exclusive: Old City Hall transformation underway as Sadiq Khan's former HQ is dismantled
London should open 10 new wild swimming spots, according London assembly
