Wildspace Conservation Park
Encyclopedia
The Wildspace Conservation Park, also known as London Riverside Conservation Park or Wildspace, is a major new conservation park currently under development. The conservation park is predominantly in London
, within the London Borough of Havering
, but also extends across the capital's administrative boundary and into Thurrock
in Essex
. It covers much of the Rainham Marshes near to Rainham
and Wennington
and its area is 645 hectares .
The conservation park is being developed by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
along with The London Borough of Havering, the RSPB
, the Mayor of London
, the LDA
, Thurrock Council and the Thurruck Thames Gateway Development Corporation
on land that is currently owned by the LTGDC, the London Borough of Havering, the RSPB, the Port of London Authority
, Oldrealm Ltd and Cleanaway Ltd.
It was opened to the public in 2006 and plans for its future development were set out within a new joint publication, endorsed by Bill Oddie
, which illustrates that the first phase of development is expected to be completed in 2008, following which subsequent phases are planned in order to develop the conservation park into a visitor attraction capable of attracting 1,000,000 visitors per annum when completed in 2023.
The conservation park is seen as a flagship new green space within the London Riverside
section of the London Thames Gateway
regeneration area. When complete, it will form a 6.4 km² (640 hectares / 1580 acres) conservation, recreation and amenity zone twice the size of Hampstead Heath
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, within the London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Havering
The London Borough of Havering is a London borough in North East London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in Havering is Romford and the other main communities are Hornchurch, Upminster and Rainham. The borough is mainly characterised by suburban development with large...
, but also extends across the capital's administrative boundary and into Thurrock
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. It covers much of the Rainham Marshes near to Rainham
Rainham, London
Rainham is a suburban town in northeast London, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Located east of Charing Cross, it is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan and is surrounded by a residential area, which has grown from the historic village,...
and Wennington
Wennington, London
Wennington is a small village in the London Borough of Havering on the outskirts of east London. It is situated 14.8 miles east of Charing Cross....
and its area is 645 hectares .
The conservation park is being developed by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, with directors appointed by the Secretary of State, including some democratically elected councillors...
along with The London Borough of Havering, the RSPB
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Bird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years...
, the Mayor of London
Greater London Authority
The Greater London Authority is the top-tier administrative body for Greater London, England. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of London, currently Boris Johnson, and an elected 25-member London Assembly with scrutiny powers...
, the LDA
London Development Agency
The London Development Agency is the Regional Development Agency for Greater London, England. It is a functional body of the Greater London Authority...
, Thurrock Council and the Thurruck Thames Gateway Development Corporation
Thurrock Development Corporation
Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government. It is an Urban Development Corporation set up by the Government of the United Kingdom covering the entire the borough and unitary authority of Thurrock...
on land that is currently owned by the LTGDC, the London Borough of Havering, the RSPB, the Port of London Authority
Port of London
The Port of London lies along the banks of the River Thames from London, England to the North Sea. Once the largest port in the world, it is currently the United Kingdom's second largest port, after Grimsby & Immingham...
, Oldrealm Ltd and Cleanaway Ltd.
It was opened to the public in 2006 and plans for its future development were set out within a new joint publication, endorsed by Bill Oddie
Bill Oddie
William "Bill" Edgar Oddie OBE is an English author, actor, comedian, artist, naturalist and musician, who became famous as one of The Goodies....
, which illustrates that the first phase of development is expected to be completed in 2008, following which subsequent phases are planned in order to develop the conservation park into a visitor attraction capable of attracting 1,000,000 visitors per annum when completed in 2023.
The conservation park is seen as a flagship new green space within the London Riverside
London Riverside
The London Riverside is a new development area in north east London, England and part of the larger Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The London Riverside area forms part of the Green Enterprise District, a project to create a low-carbon economy region in Greater London.It is one of two zones...
section of the London Thames Gateway
Thames Gateway
The Thames Gateway is an area of land stretching east from inner east London on both sides of the River Thames and the Thames Estuary. The area, which includes much brownfield land, has been designated a national priority for urban regeneration, taking advantage of the development opportunities...
regeneration area. When complete, it will form a 6.4 km² (640 hectares / 1580 acres) conservation, recreation and amenity zone twice the size of Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London clay...
.