Grimshaw and LDA Design on the development of Cringle Dock Waste Transfer Station

Image: courtesy of Grimshaw

Grimshaw, with LDA Design, engineering consultants WSP, and planning consultants Arup has been appointed to design the redevelopment of Cringle Dock Waste Transfer Station which sits in the Nine Elms Regeneration Area, adjacent to the newly developed Battersea Power Station.

Led by the Western Riverside Waste Authority - which encompasses the four inner London boroughs of Lambeth, Hammersmith & Fulham, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Wandsworth – proposals for the site will address the context of the waste transfer station which sits within increasingly urbanised and commercial surroundings.

Cringle Dock is one of London’s strategic waste transfer stations, handling thousands of tonnes of waste onto barges each week, which reduces road haulage, cuts emissions and keeps London functioning. Originally commissioned in the early 1970's, the intention is to redevelop the site, to create state-of-the-art facility that is not only in keeping with the area but also supports it socially, economically and environmentally, all while minimising disruption to existing services.

‘The opportunity is clear.’ said Kirsten Lees, Partner at Grimshaw. ‘To reimagine Cringle Dock not as hidden infrastructure but as a centre of environmental excellence. The function of infrastructure, its critical role within and enabling the life of our cities, is to be celebrated not hidden. Our design will be a mechanism to realise this and create wider benefits to the community, residents and visitors.’

Sitting right on the south bank of the river Thames, the project is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect Londoners to the site. Another aim is to reconnect The Thames Path and provide a portal into the site to demystify waste and its management.

A visitor and education centre will bring forward learnings about the circular economy of the city, and viewing platforms and walkways will afford a new identity to this site. The design itself will embody the purpose of the station – adopting sustainable, reclaimed and repurposed materials, renewable energy and enhancing the biodiversity of the area.

"It is very exciting for Western Riverside Waste Authority to work together with Grimshaw Architects on this project, which is of vital importance to the long-term management of London's waste and recycling, along with promotion circular economy and other environmental initiatives."

Euston Ling, Infrastructure Development Manager at Western Riverside Waste Authority.