SEEPark Pathfinder Ph 1
Reimagining a vulnerable landscape into a place of hope.
Location: South Essex, UK
Client: Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA)
Year: 2021 – ongoing
Length: 14.7 km / 9 miles
The vision for the Pathfinder is to reveal the magic of the Central Thames Marshland landscape – endless waterfront, expansive skies and views, dynamic marshlands, and impressive heritage sites – by creating a welcoming, accessible, and engaging path network, that links all these appealing landscape elements together.
The focus is mainly on celebrating what exists already. This involves informing people about the Pathfinder project, providing legible signage and interpretation, improving access to and along the coast with good quality paths, installing amenities and facilities for people’s comfort and enjoyment, including play. It also includes naturally mitigating flooding along the route, enhancing biodiversity, using sensitive and sustainable construction materials and techniques, and minimising disruption to local wildlife.
The design ambitions for the CTM Pathfinder all fall under the umbrella of the SEEPARK Strategic Green and Blue Infrastructure Study objectives, and provide a clear demonstration of the many benefits that the SEEPARK will bring, including to:
- Improve the existing path network: South Essex sub regional pathway from Coalhouse Fort to Leigh-on Sea; Thames Estuary Path; England Coastal Path – will be improved where possible, allowing better accessibility, flood mitigation, and public amenities. This will incorporate restoration and improvement of existing paths along with the integration of new sections of path to complete routes.
- Link key destinations and features: Coalhouse Fort, Thurrock Thameside Nature Reserve, Wat Tyler Country Park, Canvey Wick, Hadleigh Castle, Leigh-on-Sea, etc. – will be connected along a continuous journey.
- Build public amenities and facilities: that support human activity (in appropriate locations with careful consideration of the sensitive and protected habitats), interpretation, educational, and creative opportunities including: seating areas; public facilities (toilets), nature watch points, wayfinding and sustainable art installations.
The complete network of CTM Pathfinder between Coalhouse Fort to Leigh-on-Sea is divided into 3 phases with Phase 1 between Coalhouse Fort and Stanford-le-Hope undergoing detailed design and delivery, closely followed by Phases 2 and 3, which will complete this new route and achieve the first major project in the delivery of SEE Park.
