Tower of London moat transformation plans approved

Ponds, rain gardens, a meadow, a war memorial and a “gathering space” could be introduced to the moat, as well as the return of water for the first time since the 1840s.

Approved plans say the redevelopment will create an “ecologically rich moat landscape that reconnects visitors with the Tower’s defensive history while responding to biodiversity loss, and water scarcity”.

Under the plans by Historic Royal Palaces, the three sides of the moat will stay accessible to the public and include a mixture of ponds, wetlands, meadows and grassland areas, with pathways and seating.

The west moat will have “rain gardens” watered by historic spouts from the revetment wall.

Tower Of London (LDRS image) (Image: LDRS)

There will also be an “open meadow” with “long views along the moat” and a “sizeable gathering space” near its entrance.

Along the northern side there will be features memorialising the First and Second World Wars.

These will include a “First World War solider emerging from the planting and Women’s Auxiliary Air Force member holding the steel cable from a barrage balloon”.

There will also be a seating area at the site of the now-demolished North Bastion Tower, which was badly damaged in the Second World War.

The east moat will include a nature learning pond for school visits and activity spaces.

It will focus on “how the moat historically supported daily life, food production and industry within the Tower”.

The moat is currently occupied by the summer 2022 ‘Superbloom installation of wildflowers.

However, that same summer saw historic heatwaves in June, July and August, with Thames Water introducing a hosepipe ban.

Design documents submitted with the application say an emergency backup irrigation tank soon ran dry without watering the plants sufficiently.

They say Historic Royal Palaces “has learnt from the dry summer of 2022, that the challenges of keeping an attraction such as Superbloom in constant visual splendour, relies on a significant water supply to look attractive”.

Under the new plan, water collected in a 19th century culvert that collects storm water will be used to top up the wetlands during dry periods.

Council planning officers described the plans as “a distinctive and innovative landscape response which reinforces the setting and appreciation of the Tower of London while delivering substantial environmental benefits”.

Officers said the proposal would “introduce noticeable changes to the appearance and experience of the moat landscape”.

They also said this would cause “less than substantial harm” to the significance of the Tower of London.

However the officers said this did not affect the “key attributes” of the Tower’s outstanding universal value status, nor its integrity as a world heritage site.

They added that the harm would be outweighed by the “substantial public benefits” of “enhanced biodiversity, climate resilience, sustainability, accessibility, heritage interpretation and visitor experience”.