Wandsworth Riverside Quarter

Wandsworth Riverside Quarter is a strategic waterfront development of 700 apartments and 350,000 sq.ft. of commercial and leisure space on one of the most prominent sites on the River Thames in Wandsworth, at the confluence with the River Wandle.

We have (individually in previous employment and now as a Biodiversity by Design) for over a decade been the project ecologists responsible for ecological assessment and design. From 1999, Dr Mike Wells, Founding Director of Biodiversity by Design, took this scheme through from initial site assessment, to public consultation and full EIA to Outline Planning Approval whilst in former employ.

Mike led the design key mitigation measure for adverse effects on waterfowl – the creation of floating ‘bird hotels’ on the Thames. Special attention was given to the habitat creation for the juvenile Smelt Osmerus eperlanus on intertidal terraces created at the site’s north-east corner.

Biodiversity by Design continued with the project, first finalising the design and delivery of intertidal terraces and then on the design of the rest of the Scheme from Phase 3 onwards. We undertook survey for plant communities, invertebrates, reptiles, birds and bats.

We further collated the latest fish monitoring data from the nearby tideway and liaised closely with the Zoological Society for London regarding the latest findings on Smelt spawning.

We provided detailed ecological performance specifications for all new habitats both on buildings and at ground level. Our team also revisited all ecological mitigation and enhancement measures and developed a long-term monitoring strategy to assess their efficacy. We designed and acted as Ecological Clerk of Works for the remedial ecological management of the intertidal terraces created in previous years. We also provided the services of a Suitably Qualified Ecologist for BREEAM.

Our key ideas and proposals within the project included:

- The ecological design of intertidal terraces to accommodate Smelt and other target fish species.
- Maximising the value of ground level planting to target species of pollinator.
- Proposals for a greatly enhanced riverside woodland natural play area.
- Biodiverse living roofs with impeded drainage areas and multiple refuges for target invertebrates and birds.
- An environmental signage strategy to highlight the importance of the site and its context along the (recovering/restoring) River Wandle.