Upstream from Tower Bridge and Butlers Wharf lie the floating gardens of Downings Road. Southwark Borough Council ran a long campaign to evict the tenants, but lost - just as they lost a previous campaign to stop the Shakespeare Globe Theatre being built. See the Save the Moorings campaign website. The Mayor of London commented as follows on the planning inspector's decision: "The principle of retaining the moorings is supported by the London Plan policy 4C.19 and supporting text contained in paragraphs 4.117 and 4.118. The mix of uses proposed for these moorings should be seen as broadly acceptable in the context of a multi functional Blue Ribbon Network as long as there are appropriate amenity and environmental safeguards in place." [See note on the London Plan 2004 Blue Ribbon Policy].
Now that the principle of having houseboats with floating gardens has been established, a landscape planning study should be carried out to see where else in the Blue Ribbon they could be moored.
The Downing Road Floating Gardens are a delightful addition to London's river landscape.
