The promised regeneration of a south west London town centre that is yet to even begin construction nearly three years after it was approved has been described as 'painfully slow'.

Plans for the part-derelict Twickenham Riverside were approved in 2022 after 40 years of uncertainty and will see 45 new homes, shops, cafés, restaurants and open space built next to the River Thames, but construction still has not started.

Green councillors warned Twickenham Riverside is among several projects led by Richmond Council which have been in the pipeline for several years without making significant progress.

They raised their concerns at the authority's budget meeting on Tuesday (4 March 2025).

Green councillor Richard Bennett pressed the Lib Dem administration on whether it understood 'the level of disappointment that residents are feeling at the painfully slow progress in the development of Twickenham Riverside'.

Green councillor Andrée Frieze, Opposition Leader, added the council could end up 'lamenting missed opportunities' if it did not investigate and address the delays.

Lib Dem Council Leader Gareth Roberts told the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the meeting, that the authority shared residents' frustration and remained committed to delivering the scheme. Councillor Roberts said the scheme had been delayed by factors beyond the council's control, including the process to acquire gardens needed for the revamp taking longer than expected.

Twickenham Riverside Trust was given a 125-year lease on Diamond Jubilee Garden in 2014 and opposed the council's application to acquire the land under a compulsory purchase order (CPO) at a public inquiry in June 2023, but it was approved that November.

CGI of the Twickenham Riverside development viewed from Eel Pie Bridge (credit: Richmond Council/Hopkins Architects).

The council will move the gardens to the centre of the site and build two new blocks on either side, with a five-storey building on Wharf Lane and a four-storey block on Water Lane.

There will be 45 new homes across both buildings, including 21 affordable homes, along with new shops, offices, cafés and restaurants on their ground floors.

The new gardens will have a children's play area with a tree house and climbing wall, playing pitches, terraced lawns, new trees and tiered seating.

There will be space to hold events next to the Thames, along with a new zone for activities on the river – including boat storage and a pontoon.

Councillor Roberts said: "We understand that Richmond residents are eager to see progress on the Twickenham Riverside development, and we share their frustration at the challenges that have contributed to delays.

"We remain fully committed to delivering a vibrant and sustainable riverside space that enriches the town centre and benefits the community for years to come.

"There have been factors beyond our control that have contributed to delays, including the compulsory purchase order process and gaining programme commitment for a new temporary substation – as well as the decommissioning of the existing substation and essential diversion works – by UK Power Networks, which operates on its own schedule.

"While the CPO process was a significant hurdle, we took the time to explore alternatives to avoid unnecessary costs and delays for taxpayers. Unfortunately, an agreement could not be reached, and the process took longer than anticipated. In addition, new legislative requirements required a review of some elements of the scheme's design to ensure compliance, further impacting the timeline.

"Despite these challenges, we are moving forward as quickly as possible. We remain committed to keeping residents informed as the project progresses and appreciate the community's patience as we work through these final steps."

The council's current timeline for the works, published on its website, says demolition of existing buildings on the site will begin in spring, before the main contract is signed in summer.

The timeline predicts construction works will start in autumn, with the scheme set for completion by 2027.

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