The completion of Bazalgette Embankment has transformed a former Tideway construction site into one of London’s most significant new public spaces.
Located adjacent to Blackfriars Bridge, the 1.5-acre riverside destination forms part of the Thames Tideway Tunnel project, creating a vibrant landscape above the infrastructure that now intercepts hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sewage that previously discharged into the River Thames each year.
The development reconnects people with the river through generous public spaces, improved pedestrian routes, extensive planting and striking public art, while delivering long-term environmental improvements beneath the surface.
Central to the landscape are 55 newly planted trees, carefully integrated into a highly engineered environment where below-ground space is at a premium. To create the conditions for healthy long-term tree establishment, GreenBlue Urban supplied a complete below-ground tree pit solution incorporating RootSpace structural soil cells in 400mm, 600mm, 800mm, 1000mm,1200mm and 1800mm depths. The modular system provides large volumes of uncompacted soil beneath the paved surface while maintaining the structural integrity required for this heavily used public realm. RootRain irrigation and aeration systems were installed to support healthy root development, ArborGuy underground guying secured each tree without the need for above-ground staking, and RootDirector root management systems encourage roots to establish safely below surrounding infrastructure.
Constructed directly above one of the most complex sections of the Tideway Tunnel and extending into the River Thames, the project demanded close integration between civil engineering and landscape design. The tree pits needed to maximise rooting volume whilst accommodating significant underground infrastructure, supporting public loading and ensuring the long-term performance of both the landscape and the engineering below. GreenBlue Urban’s integrated tree pit solution enabled these competing requirements to be successfully balanced, allowing the trees to establish without compromising the surrounding hard landscape.
Today, Bazalgette Embankment provides an inviting riverside environment that combines engineering, ecology and placemaking. More than 3,000 shrubs and perennial plants complement the trees, creating a greener, more biodiverse landscape that enhances the Thames Path and improves the experience for residents, workers and visitors alike. As the landscape matures, the trees will deliver shade, improved air quality, urban cooling and increased climate resilience, ensuring the space continues to provide environmental and social value for decades to come.
Bazalgette Embankment demonstrates how innovative below-ground tree planting infrastructure can help unlock ambitious public realm projects in the most constrained urban environments. By providing the conditions required for healthy tree establishment above major civil engineering infrastructure, the project creates a lasting legacy that benefits both the city and the River Thames.
