Old Kent Road gasholder tipped for London’s first alligator park

Residential developer Avanton is exploring plans for London’s first alligator park inside a listed gasholder on Old Kent Road, SE1. The company is working up potential plans for an alligator park and farm, after it was approached by an out-of-town specialist, looking for a spot in the capital. The alligators would be housed within a series of water features within the gasholder, with a glass conservatory and pavilion, accompanied by a visitor centre and landscaped parkland. It is one of various leisure offerings that Avanton will put to Southwark Council ahead of a planning application for a £230m mixed-use scheme. Marc Pennick, partner at Avanton, said: “The local authorities want destinations for people to come to Old Kent Road. “It is a listed gasholder, so we have to work within those challenges, but why not do something different?” He said redevelopment of the 48.8m-high Grade II listed gasholder as an alligator park would appeal to local schools and tourists from further afield. Pennick noted that the size of the site and the large 20m-deep pit lends itself well to large reptilian habitation. He said: “It is a lot of space – the gasholder is as big as the Albert Hall.” Avanton is also considering other attractions including a lido, a park and other outdoor commercial uses. It acquired the four-acre site last year from Scotia Gas Networks for a residential-led scheme of around 750 homes and 50,000 sq ft of light industrial commercial space. The acquisition has brought Avanton’s pipeline to more than 2,100 flats around Old Kent Road, across three sites with an end value of £750m. A planning application for the gasholder site will be submitted to the council this year. To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette