Hammersmith & Fulham Council has approved plans to restore and repurpose the Grade II* listed
Gasholder No.2 at King’s Road Park, ensuring the restoration of a highly significant heritage structure in time
for its 200th anniversary, whilst creating a unique and striking public landmark for London. The gasholder
forms part of the former Fulham gasworks, developed in the early 19th century.
Built between 1829 and 1830, Gasholder No.2 is the oldest known surviving gasholder in the world. It was
designed by John Kirkham and Samuel Clegg, with the latter recognised as the world’s first gas engineer. In
terms of design and scale, the gasholder represents a highly innovative step forward in industrial design and
its cast-iron tripod frame is now the only surviving example of its kind, making the restoration especially
significant.
The proposal allows for careful dismantling, refurbishment and re-erection of the historic structure,
preserving key architectural elements while integrating them into a thoughtfully designed public space
featuring new landscaping, seating and interpretative water displays – creating a new and calming space for
the community at King’s Road Park.
The gasholder restoration sits at the centre of King’s Road Park, a major brownfield regeneration project led
by St William, a Berkeley Group company. The development is transforming a once-derelict former
gasworks into a welcoming mixed-use new neighbourhood, delivering around 1,800 private and affordable
homes and six acres of public open space.
Homes are now on sale in phase three of the development (pictured above), which boarders the park where
the gasholder will be situated.
The masterplan will also provide 70,000 sq ft of commercial and community space and restore several
historic assets, including the gasholder, war memorials, the former Research Laboratory and the Chief
Engineer’s Office.
Surveys confirm that the 19th century gasholder is currently in poor condition, suffering from severe
corrosion and is on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. To safeguard the structure, large sections
will be dismantled, with salvageable elements refurbished off site and reinstated within the new park
landscape.
Historic England, the Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society (GLIAS) and the Hammersmith &
Fulham Historic Buildings Group all supported the plans.
When reinstated, the gasholder will have pride of place at the heart of King’s Road Park landscape and will
help define the identity of this growing neighbourhood.
Dean Summers, Divisional Managing Director, St James and St William, said: “Reviving this beautiful
listed gasholder is central to the vision for King’s Road Park and we’re delighted to have received approval
from Hammersmith & Fulham Council. The restored structure will be a fantastic local landmark and we are
extremely proud to celebrate and preserve this fascinating piece of industrial history. I would also like to
thank the team at Historic England for their proactive and collaborative support throughout the application
process, which has helped us to shape an extremely high quality and deliverable design.
”
Tom Foxall, Regional Director at Historic England, said: “We’re delighted with St William’s plans for the
Grade II* listed Fulham Gasholder, the oldest surviving gasholder in the world. This thoughtful proposal will
secure the long-term future of this unique piece of pioneering Georgian engineering and allow its removal
from our Heritage at Risk Register. For the first time in its history, the public will be able to experience the
gasholder’s intricate wrought-iron truss structure as part of an exciting new public space. These plans
demonstrate how sensitive restoration can breathe new life into our industrial heritage, an approach St
William are championing across many of their sites. ”
Approval is subject to detailed conditions and a legal agreement covering dismantling, storage, reassembly,
interpretation, public access and long-term maintenance.
