11.07.2022

Durkan starts construction on Southmere Boat House as part of extensive Thamesmead regeneration.

Durkan, one of London and the South East’s leading independent development and construction companies, has begun construction of the new Southmere Boat House in Thamesmead, creating a dedicated centre for Southmere Boat Club.

The building will replace what is currently an undeveloped gravel car-park located between Southmere Lake and the Lakeside Centre, which are both recognised filming locations for acclaimed television series ‘Misfits’. Once complete, Southmere Boat House will offer 550 square meters of outdoor storage and 120 square meters of indoor space. This will include new changing, shower and WC facilities, as well as new recreational and educational spaces for the local community to enjoy.

The site is situated on the waterfront at Southmere Lake, which, as a Grade II Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) is known for its scenic location and biodiversity.

The exterior of Southmere Boat House, which will be dressed in a mirror-like sinusoidal steel, makes the building a subtle addition to its surroundings, complementing the natural aesthetic of the area by reflecting the landscape around it.

Offering two new sailing launch points to Southmere Lake, the Boat House will improve access to the lake in a destination already popular with youth clubs, schools, and the wider community, as one of the few spots in London that allows water-sport activities.

The project will also provide excellent links to the Lakeside Centre, which has recently re-opened to the public after undergoing renovation.

Its reopening has brought  an abundance of amenities to the heart of Thamesmead, making it a focus of cultural and community life for visitors and residents alike. Facilities include dedicated workplaces for London’s creative talent, the Front Room Café, the Enterprise Kitchen, run by social enterprise Greenwich, and a YMCA-run nursery. Durkan’s work on the Boat House will incorporate an additional car-park to be shared between the Boat Club and nursery.

The Boat House is the latest project in the wider regeneration of Thamesmead and a welcome addition to the new Southmere Village development, which is breathing new life into the area with the addition of 525 homes, shops, local facilities and an innovatively designed library.

Southmere Boat House continues the transformation of the community, turning a previously disused space into an attractive venue for recreation and learning that brings the growing community to the green heart of Thamesmead.