South Dock Marina is set to undergo an £8 million structural upgrade to deliver crucial health and safety improvements.
The programme of works, led by Southwark Council, has now been granted planning permission subject to further consultation with affected businesses to finalise plans for relocation and affordable workspaces.
Nestled on the south bank of the Thames, South Dock Marina is home to over 200 berths and plays an integral role in the borough’s local economy.
Over the past decade, the Council has carried out several improvements to the marina and has recently begun preparation for the upcoming safety works.
An initial public consultation on the design concept was carried out in 2023 and a revised proposal reflecting local views has been submitted to the Council’s planning committee.
The boatyard will be reorganised to create a safer workflow, addressing key health and safety concerns. Privately-owned containers and unsuitable structures will be replaced with purpose-built workshops and boat sheds that comply with modern building standards, including fire safety, thermal performance, and energy efficiency. New leases on these units will be offered first to existing boatyard businesses.
Additional health and safety improvements include:
- Upgrading the electrical supply and distribution
- Replacing and relocating the facilities block
- Creating safe access to workshops
- Segregating vehicle/pedestrian access and circulation
- Reconfiguring the layout to create clear zones for the range of boat-related activities accommodated at the site
- Improving ground conditions, drainage and resurfacing to address subsidence
Additionally, as part of the boatyard works, the Council will replace the existing crane at the marina, which has nearly reached the end of its useable life after almost 40 years.
The new crane will be installed a few metres south of the current one and will require new foundations.
Moving forward, the Council will manage the business tenancies to ensure adherence to health and safety standards and overall operation of the boatyard. Under the new proposals, the Council will lease units to existing boatyard businesses at a discount rent to then transition to a market rent overtime.
Additionally, units leased to businesses which are dominantly maritime will be offered a long-term rent discounted to support the boatyard being a maritime centre of excellence.
Councillor Portia Mwangangye, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks and Young People, said: “We are pleased to now be able to address urgent health and safety concerns to our unique marina. The investment also reaffirms the boatyard as a premier destination for the boating community, attracting more visitors and strengthening the local community.
“While this project will cause some disruption, we are dedicated to supporting berth holders through this transition period and hope to see their continued place within in the borough”.
What Happens Next
Now planning approval has been granted, preparations will begin for construction works to start on site later this year. Once we have met planning conditions, preliminary works including further surveys and clearances will start at the site.
The first part of the construction works, which will be the laying of new underground services, will complete early next year, at which point the works above ground will commence, including the construction of the new workshops and boat sheds.