BANGOR WHARF. REGENTS CANAL, GEORGIANA STREET, LONDON NW1

A small, well-located wharf near the centre of Camden Town could provide a suitable goods depot served by water transport on the Regents Canal. It needs protection from redevelopment (especially residential use) that could restrict its active commercial use. With the current attention on the promotion of water freight and the prevailing guidelines for modal shift to sustainable transport, it is important that the potential of wharf sites is recognised. Through their LDFs, protection for the sites can then given by local authorities by identifying the sites for future active water-related use.

The wharf is more or less an ideal small freight unloading and distribution site for this busy inner city location. It is in a good position to provide a number of delivery and transport opportunities in the local area which can be served by small delivery vans, including electric vehicles. It also has close connections to major through routes (A5202, A400, A502, A503) serving key locations in north London for collection or delivery.

Canal connections

From the central location on the Regents Canal, there are useful canal routes in both directions to West London and Park Royal, to the Lee Valley, to City Road and to Central London in Docklands.

Lack of central wharves

It is of concern that there is not a wide range of wharves in the central area, and LB Camden has lost a large number of key potential wharves to residential development. Water freight sites could be developed at the Interchange Warehouse, St Pancras Way and Granary Street. There are no possible sites in the Kings Cross area unfortunately and water transport will pass by the new developments and out the other side without stopping.

Variety of cargoes

A detailed survey needs to be undertaken to ascertain details of the wide range of business and commercial companies within easy reach of Bangor Wharf. This could provide the opportunity for consolidated bulk deliveries for distribution in the area, for instance from a small container from abroad. The future freight opportunities will become apparent once the wharf is in use, and in the meantime what is considered the more conventional use of waterways for refuse, recycled materials, construction waste bulk building materials will be the main cargoes.

Heritage features

Bangor Wharf was typical of the most of canal wharves which were large open spaces alongside the waterway for unloading goods rather than warehouse buildings. The original historic brick wharfside wall with ragstone capping remains more or less intact and should be carefully restored and brought back into everyday use rather than replaced by unsightly steel piling (see Lathams Wharf nearby). The Georgiana Street entrance opens onto a wide and relatively quiet side street A calm deserted canal waiting to be brought back into active use.

See 1914 Map. Red line denoting boundary of the Regents Canal Conservation Area

The original report (in PDF format) is available here.