Perhaps it is surprising that Chelsea Harbour isn’t actually in Chelsea. It resides within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. However, its name is still Chelsea Harbour.
Chelsea Harbour stands on land with a rich past. It was once the 28-acre estate of Sandford Manor House. Nell Gwyn may have even lived here. By the 19th century, the estate declined. A gas company bought it. Part of the land became a Victorian railway coaling dock on the River Thames. Later, it served as a coal yard for British Rail’s predecessor companies.
In April 1986, planning permission was granted for redevelopment. The whole site was derelict including the lock. The Coal Dock and lock were filled with contaminated materials. These materials had to be excavated and disposed of. The design required reducing the dock size by one-third. This created the 75-berth marina. The lock chamber, gates, and cill were reconstructed.
Construction was a massive undertaking. Work began in May 1986. Within a year, the contractor excavated the dock. They constructed a new north wall. The dock floor was re-puddled, and the lock was renovated. The site was equipped with 14 tower cranes. Around 1,500 personnel worked on-site during the build.
Between April 1986 and April 1987, significant progress was made. Two thousand piles were sunk over 30 metres down to the London clay. This was done without problems. It was close to an Underground cable and a large sewer. 250,000 cubic metres of earth were excavated and removed. Fifty-five acres of floor space were built. This used 70,000 cubic metres of concrete and 8,000 tons of steel. “Chelsea Crescent” was built in just eight weeks. Three new bridges were completed. The largest “thrust bore” tunnel in Europe was installed. The 18-storey “Belvedere” tower was topped out within six months.
Chelsea Harbour was designed by Moxley Jenner & Partners. Mansford developed it. Bovis Homes Group served as project management consultants. It was the biggest single construction project in the UK for decades. The original plan was for 16 buildings. Only 12 were completed due to an economic downturn.
Harrods Estates managed the sale and letting of the 310 apartments. Prices started around £2 million per property. The 261,000 sq ft site has 24-hour security patrols. Residents have 24-hour porterage.
The marina is not used commercially. It accommodates luxury yachts and speedboats. It is accessible from the Thames at high tide. A sphere on top of “The Belvedere” indicates tide levels.
The Chelsea Harbour Design Centre is a key feature. It houses over 70 showrooms. These showrooms occupy nearly 66,000 sq ft of space. Three large glazed domes top a galleria. Offices are in “Harbour Yard” and “The Design Centre East”.
Chelsea Harbour has been home to notable residents. Michael Caine, Robbie Williams, and Tom Stoppard have lived here.
The area has been enhanced by Imperial Wharf. This riverside development commemorates the Imperial Gas Light and Coke Company. A London Overground station serves the area.
Chelsea Harbour stands as a testament to regeneration. It transformed a derelict site into a prestigious development. Its blend of luxury residences, design, and marina creates a unique environment.