Camberwell Old, Area Z, Regeneration

Client: : Southwark Council Location: : Southwark London Value: : £1 million approx

‘Area Z’ in Camberwell Old Cemetery Southwark, was contaminated with 14,000 tonnes of illegally tipped soil and waste in 2003.  A number of valuable mature trees are protected and the cemetery is a Grade I Site of Borough Importance for biodiversity.  Tipping had taken place over historic unmarked public graves, including War Graves. The area is also part consecrated. Fenced off due to safety concerns it had been allowed to become overgrown.  Unexploded ordnance was found in 2011.

Further to pressure from local residents to make good, and duty-bound under enforcement action from the Environment Agency,  Southwark Council were intent on restoring the site,  despite protest and legal action from a protest group.  Southwark employed HDD as lead consultant who over a number of years managed site investigations, and worked with specialists to develop a remediation strategy.  HDD led a team of geotechnical, drainage, and civil engineers, and ecologists and, in consultation with the Friends groups, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the London Wildlife Trust, local undertakers, and faith groups, developed a highly sensitive scheme that sought to minimise impacts on residents, protect valuable trees,  respect burials, and maximise biodiversity and create an attractive dignified series of burial areas with public access and a wealth of tree planting.

As lead consultant HDD developed, and submitted 5 planning applications, three faculty applications, and a case for a Consistory Court hearing.

With permissions secured, HDD managed enabling works, and were the client’s agent for the remediation contract. HDD then led the £1.0m finishing works including capping and modelling with 5,000 cu.m of clean soil, services, drainage, carriageways, paths and a new entrance, with gate by an artisan metalworker. 9000 native trees and shrubs, extensive areas of wildflowers, hibernacula, log piles, bat and bird boxes were established.

The scheme won a BALI award for best regeneration scheme over £500K in 2021 and has been commended further to monitoring as being a very good example of sensitive landscaping providing real Biodiversity Net Gain.