Planning for the Canada Water area should include an
overview of the whole of Area Two as designated within
the Council’s Area Forum, with particular regard to
the whole of the Surrey Docks peninsula.
The planning should take account of the opportunity to
develop a Green Belt Strategy, arising from the existing
network of established ecological sites.
Surrey Docks Farm and the Pumphouse Education Museum are
established green spaces and examples of good practice,
occupying strategically important sites within the
borough. Both have a long track record of piloting
quality environmental education and leisure programmes.
These should be seen as key players to influence the
planning process to include a maximum use of green spaces
within the whole area as a means to achieve
sustainability.
The current network of Green Spaces supports the Mayor’s
development of a Biodiversity Strategy for the Capital,
which seeks to protect and enhance such established sites.
A green network should be established to allow movement
of wildlife between sites and along corridors to ensure
survival. This opportunity should be seized to establish
sustainable links between the current isolated green
spaces, thus maximising the infrastructure to support
wildlife.
All planning for this area should include awareness of
the unique opportunities to develop a sustainable
community based around the network of green spaces. If
the environmental and suburban nature of the area were
realised, then it would be of national and international
interest and importance. This would lead to income
generation through job creation, skills training for the
Life Long Learning Strategy and environmental education
based within a Healthy Living Strategy.
This is a chance to establish an inclusive community
working in, for and through the environment, which
supports the council’s Sustainable Southwark policy
(in line with Local Agenda 21), meets the issues arising
from the council’s UDP and maximises the ability of
individuals and groups to attract sponsorship from a wide
variety of sources.
Canada Water Green Spaces Topic Paper -
Daphne Ferrigan – Farm teacher, Surrey Docks Farm
Caroline Marais – Head of Centre, Pumphouse Education Museum
