‘Landmark’ south London gasholder could host wild swimming pond

A grade II listed gasholder in south London might host a wild swimming pond, Southwark Council has revealed.

The new park, to be named after the gasworks founder George Livesey, within the space surrounding Gasholder No. 13 is a part of wider regeneration works along the Old Kent Road.

If given the inexperienced mild, a swimming pond would type half of the set up with the opposite being a pond with reed beds which would offer pure water filtration.

Council paperwork stated the power can be “a unique health offer, with nothing similar in London, the UK or Europe”.

The plan was unveiled at a Southwark Council committee assembly earlier this month.

A council officer instructed the assembly that the council owns a lot of the land on the former gasworks whereas the gasholder itself is owned by fuel distribution firm SGN Networks.

“What we’re proposing is to convert that into an open outdoor wild swimming provision. It would be cold water swimming,” the officer stated.

“The idea is it would be filtered naturally through reed beds, so nice and bio-diverse.

“It can be distinctive, not simply in London, however wherever. There is not a historic gasholder with a swimming pool in it.”

He stated it was nonetheless “early days” for the proposal and the council is “scoping out the enterprise case and the associated fee”.

Works on the “native landmark” could be partially funded by the development of 800 homes on land owned by SGN close to the gasholder, councillors heard.

Gasholder No.13, built in 1879-1881 by engineer Livesey, was listed as a grade II building by Historic England in 2017.

The council officer said the proposals would be “fairly a pleasant match with George Livesey”, who was “fairly the Victorian philanthropist” after building a nearby library, and hosting allotment and sport grounds on the gasworks.

Helen Dennis, the council’s cabinet member for new homes and sustainability, said: “We are decided for the Old Kent Road regeneration to ship a greener and more healthy neighbourhood, guaranteeing that growth ends in new and improved parks and neighborhood amenities.”

She added that the proposal “would rework the realm with such an thrilling and distinctive provide”, and praised the potential contribution from builders in making it occur.