Wild swimming may be coming to the Old Kent Road at Southwark’s Grade II listed gasworks, writes Rich Brann.
Plans outlined at the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee described the proposal as unlike anything else seen in Europe, creating an accessible freshwater swimming experience with health benefits at the development site in Old Kent Road, to be renamed Livesey Park.
The project would divide the historic gasworks in two, building a cold water swimming pool in one half and a natural reed-based filtration system in the other half, keeping water for the pool fresh, while a café, shop, and changing rooms would provide refreshment opportunities and pay for the pool’s upkeep.
Southwark Labour Councillor Helen Dennis said: “The idea for a wild swimming pond in the planned Livesey Park is at an early stage but would transform the area with such an exciting and unique offer, and is a good example of what can be made possible through investment and contributions from developers.
“We are determined for the Old Kent Road regeneration to deliver a greener and healthier neighbourhood, ensuring that development results in new and improved parks and community facilities.”
The gasworks at Livesey Park forms part of the major Old Kent Road regeneration project, projected to deliver as many as 20,000 homes across Southwark and south-east London as well as 2 other parks for the neighbourhood.
Briefly the largest gasworks in the world, they were originally built by engineer Sir George Livesey from 1879-81, but have been disused since 1953 before being bought by Southwark Council in 2017 for £15m.
Wild swimming at the historic site would allow the Grade II-listed outer structure to remain in place while utilising the former deep-water tank at the site for the project, and is expected to be the only wild swimming opportunity at a gasworks in the world.
Cllr Dennis clarified that once detailed proposals were in place, there would be community consultation on the project, after which it could expect to begin development in 2027 or 2028, though she stressed that the project remains in a very early stage.
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Wild swimming has become a popular hobby in the last decade, defined as swimming in outdoor freshwater spaces, and lidos and outdoor swimming pools are one form of the hobby, though typically ponds, lakes and rivers are popular destinations.
The gasworks project follows Greenland Dock being turned into a wild swimming area in 2024, where people can book 400m swimming sessions with Southwark Council around the historic pools, while Beckenham Place Park’s pool remains a popular spot in South East London for freshwater swimming.
Other health swimming opportunities in the borough in the last couple of years have included community sauna and cold plunge sessions in Burgess Park, with Community Sauna Baths opening one permanent spot in Ruskin Park last year and plans for another in Denmark Hill submitted in January 2024.
The wider Old Kent Road development, of which the gasworks form a part, is expected to take the better part of 20 years to deliver in full, with consultation on the plans taking place last year.
Omer Weinberge the CEO of the site developers Avanton, who are expected to deliver 700 new homes as well as the wild swimming project, said: “We are delighted to hear the positive response to the emerging plans for the former Gasworks site on Old Kent Road.
“We see this as a chance to offer the community something genuinely new, while retaining The Grade II listed gasholder frame. Our focus is on long term investment in this part of Southwark, not only enhancing the local environment but also providing much needed new homes.
“Avanton’s Ruby Triangle masterplan will deliver over 1,600 homes, with THE BeCa as the first phase completing in Q1 2027. Alongside Southwark Council’s aspirations for the Gasworks site, this reflects a shared ambition for the area’s future, where investment in homes goes hand in hand with meaningful places.”
