Introducing the Motspur Park Gas Holders

The Motspur Park Gas Holders have been a big part of the South-West London skyline since the 1920s. They used to power London with gas for heating and cooking, but times have changed, and the industry now stores gas within underground pipe networks.

The site currently houses three redundant gas holders, alongside pressure reduction systems that convert high pressure gas to low and medium pressure for distribution to local areas such as Kingston and Croydon.

SGN and Berkeley Homes are collaborating to regenerate this previously developed brownfield site, transforming it into a vibrant new community. We want to hear what matters most to you and what you love about the local area. Share your ideas through our online survey to help shape this development together. Let’s create something truly beneficial for the community!

History Of The Gas Holders

The site was rural right up to the end of the nineteenth century when the railway was built. The railway was constructed in 1859 by the London and South Western Railway but the Motspur Park station was not delivered until 1926.

In 1924, the Wandsworth, Wimbledon and Epsom District Gas Company bought the land at Motspur Park to build the new gas holders to supply the rapidly expanding population of south-west London with gas.

The three gas holders were then built in 1924 (A), 1932 (B) and 1954 (C), and were used to store gas for distribution to local areas such as Kingston and Croydon until new methods of gas storage were introduced in the late 20th century. The gas holders have now stood redundant since approximately 2007 as SGN are able to store gas in more modern methods underground.

Site Considerations

Capturing The Opportunity

Motspur Park has so much to offer – from its abundant green spaces and vibrant community to its excellent schools, active lifestyle opportunities, and strong transport connections. These are all aspects we understand makes this area so special.

However, we also recognise that the Motspur Park Gas Holders have long been an underutilised and inaccessible part of this thriving area. We see a tremendous opportunity to transform this space into a dynamic asset that will benefit both the local community and the surrounding environment.

The plan below shows some of our initial opportunities for the site but we’re eager to hear your thoughts!

Long Term Place Keepers

Unlike many developers, our commitment to the community extends far beyond handing over the keys to new residents. Our dedicated in-house estate management team ensures the smooth integration of the development into the local area, and the ongoing management of on-site facilities, even decades after completion.

Our team of Community Engagement Officers create tailored Community Plans designed to foster long-term connections among neighbours, encourage active participation in local stewardship, and build stronger, more integrated communities.

At Motspur Park, we’re excited to apply this approach to create a vibrant, community-led neighbourhood for everyone to enjoy.

CASE STUDY: GREEN PARK VILLAGE

ROYAL EXCHANGE

Kingston upon Thames, KT11 2FQ

COMPLETED

Located within Kingston’s historic Eden Quarter much of the Royal Exchange had lain derelict since the 1980’s when a new relief road severed the urban fabric of the site from the surrounding streets and the Telephone Exchange became obsolete.

We brought forward this forgotten site in partnership with the local community to deliver much needed new homes for Kingston, and a plethora of mixed uses that have created a vibrant new quarter for the town centre.

• 322 new homes
• Restoration of two Grade II listed buildings
• New shops, restaurants, offices, and community spaces
• Landscaped public spaces that support sustainable transport with Kingston’s ‘Mini-Holland’ cycling initiative

The Atkinson Morley Hospital is a former world-class neurological hospital which had sat vacant for years prior to Berkeley purchasing the site.

After extensive consultation with local residents, we planned a new community in and around the hospital, all set within 19 acres of beautiful parkland that reconnected the site with the local community.

• 175 new homes
• Sports pavilion with three new sports pitches and 19 acres parkland
• Rental cottage to provide income for the upkeep of the Metropolitan Open Land
• Restoration and refurbishment of a locally listed building

WIMBLEDON HILL PARK

Merton, SW20 0NY

COMPLETED

CHISWICK GATE

Hounslow, W4 2TJ

COMPLETED

Berkeley bought Chiswick Gate, which was previously occupied by low rise offices, in 2012.

Planning was secured for a mix of townhousing and apartments surrounding a classic central garden square and 10,000 sqft of commercial space.

• 173 new homes
• Payments for offsite affordable housing
• Three offices supporting 100 jobs
• Central garden square
• Orchard garden play area

Working in Partnership

Berkeley and SGN have worked in partnership for over a decade to unlock and deliver former gas sites across London for residential development. These boards show two examples of this successful partnership, the first being the award-winning oval gas holders in Kennington, adjacent to the famous Oval Cricket Ground where we are currently onsite, the second being the former gas works site in Kingston, now named Queenshurst.

Working in Partnership

QUEENSHURST

Kingston, KT2 5NZ

Total number of homes: 328

COMPLETED

• Total site area 2.6 acres
• 5-minute walk from Kingston town centre
• Remediation and regeneration of the contaminated gas works site that was decommissioned in 2013
• 2 ground floor commercial units
• Delivery of a new linear park and courtyard including imagery and poetry from local school students in the paving through the park

Timescales And Next Steps

We hope you have found this exhibition useful and informative. We plan to review all feedback received and use this to feed into the design process. Once we have progressed designs further, we will undertake a second round of public consultation to present our ideas in early 2025.

Following this, we will continue to progress our proposals in partnership with the local community ahead of submitting a planning application late 2025.

Jack Nicholson

Land & Development Director

Rob Packham

Head of Land

Tom Fox

Senior Development Manager

Alfie Yule

Land Manager

Architect

Planning Consultant

Landscape Architect

PR Consultant

Transport Consultant

60 live sites

£1.4 bn contributed to affordable housing over the last 5 years

87% of our homes built on brownfield land in the last 5 years

19,000+ homes built in the last 5 years

515
Public amenities under construction including indoor community spaces, sports facilities and playspaces

Over 26,000 jobs supported per year

Committed to or delivered 580 acres of new or improved habitats

Committed to or delivered 246 acres of woodland in last 7 years