Ferris wheel and refurbished basin at Camden Lock Market

Camden council has received a planning application to erect a Ferris wheel, around 130 feet high, alongside the Interchange Building and to open up the Dead Dog Basin.

(Camden planning ref 2022/3853/P)

UPDATE: despite fierce and widespread public opposition to this proposal, the Camden planning committee voted to approve it on 8th June 2023.

Summary of proposals:

* Refurbishment of the Dead Dog Basin to service canal boats

* Refurbishment of East Vaults into ancillary and public uses

* Installation of a temporary observation wheel in West Yard

* Installation of temporary decking and a temporary bridge within close proximity of the wheel

* Refurbishment of shopfronts on the west side of West Yard ground floor stalls

Site location

This is very near the Hampstead Road Locks, opposite the Regent's Canal Information Centre.

Images of the proposed Ferris wheel

Dead Dog Basin

This basin has been neglected and underutilised for several decades but in recent years it has been accommodating industrial barges for collecting recyclable waste. We applaud this initiative and want to ensure that this recycling scheme is not undermined by future usage of the basin.

It will be refurbished and opened up to make room for the passenger boats that are being displaced by the Ferris wheel. Here is an image of how it might look.

Should we object?

The Ferris wheel will look quite out of place alongside Grade II listed heritage buildings such as the Interchange Building, the Roving Bridge, the dual chamber lock and the Lock Keeper's Cottage, but it will have no obvious impact on any local residents and the council and local businesses are probably in favour of it.

The changes to Dead Dog Basin are a huge improvement on the previous planning application (in 2015) and the applicant is helping to promote waterborne transport for recyclable waste. If the detailed plans are favourable to this means of transport, and if the industrial barges can still operate in the basin, then we should support this part of the plan.

The construction plan need to be challenged because it proposes to transport the components of the Ferris wheel via road trucks. No obvious efforts have been made to use the canal instead.

How to comment or object

Please send your comments to Alex.Kresovic@camden.gov.uk and planning@camden.gov.uk, quoting reference 2022/3853/P. (Or else you can use the council's online portal).

The official deadline is 16th October 2022 but comments will be accepted right up until the date of the committee meeting.

Sample objections

Objection from Malcolm T Tucker (GLIAS) along with supporting report (8MB)

Objection from Friends of Regent's Canal

Letter from local councillors to Mayor of London

News and views

Click here to see copies of articles in the Camden New Journal.

iRecycle and the use of barges for recycling

The applicant appears to be committed to the continued use of barges (using iRecycle) rather than road vehicles for transporting market waste. However we must ensure that no stones are left unturned and that all the access routes remain viable.

Click here to see references to iRecycle in the planning statement.

Planning documents and drawings

The full set of planning documents can be found on the council website and a selection of them is available below.

Planning Statement (PDF) (1MB)
Visual Impact Assessment (PDF) (8.5MB)
Construction Management Plan (part 1) (PDF) (7MB)
Construction Management Plan (part 2) (PDF) (7MB)
Heritage Statement(PDF) (8.5MB)
CLM-Servicing Management Plan (PDF) (1.8MB)

Council website

Show summary of the application