Located in the Upper Lea Valley on the periphery of London, the Meridian Water Masterplan will transform 85ha of post‑industrial land into an integrated district of mixed‑use neighbourhoods with capacity for c.10,000 homes, 7,000 jobs, social infrastructure and areas for industry.
Meridian Water has a long industrial past and currently has none of the necessary infrastructure to support a development of such scale; aging industrial sheds, big‑box retail and vast marshland, wetlands and reservoirs dominate the landscape and a network of north‑south rivers and canals physically sever the site.
To unite the landscape and unlock development, we have worked closely with an expert consultant engineering team to design comprehensive site infrastructure works encompassing extensive land remediation, transport infrastructure and sophisticated flood defensive strategies which are thoughtfully integrated into the landscape design. In 2019 the project was awarded £156 million of Government HIF funding for infrastructure to support the creation of 2,300 homes in Meridian Water Phase 2.
Connecting the site internally and along the Lea Valley and outward to the city is an important part of our design; a transport network of boulevards, roads, cycleways and bridges will allow east‑west travel through Meridian Water and connect different parts of the site. As well as fulfilling important functional requirements, infrastructure will act as important placemaking tools to define a distinct local identity.
Conceived as a an important part of a regional growth strategy, our transport network enables direct travel between London and along the Cambridge Corridor via the new 4‑track Meridian Water Station. Completed in 2019 and designed in collaboration with Network Rail, the station is a vital catalyst for development, replacing the inaccessible Angel Road Station and re‑locating it more centrally within the masterplan close to the central east‑west route which traverses the site. With a bold design and materials which resonate with the site’s industrial heritage, the station creates a strong sense of arrival into the area.
Throughout Meridian Water, the picturesque green spaces and waterways which are currently not easily accessible are extensively revived, remodelled and stitched back into the area. Pymmes Brook is transformed into an ecologically diverse landscape integrating into the public realm, while to the north‑east of the site, Edmonton Marshes is re‑worked into an expansive community park with a seasonal wet meadow which supports intermittent flooding throughout the year.