Published on 03 October 2025, by Wilhelmina Bunn

Last week, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan officially opened Heathwall Quay - a new public space along the riverside in Nine Elms. The opening marks another step forward in London’s major Thames Tideway Tunnel infrastructure project, better known as the “super sewer”.

Heathwall Quay fills a long-standing gap in the Thames Path, allowing walkers and cyclists to stay beside the river without having to divert inland around the old pumping station. There’s now a continuous route between Battersea and Vauxhall, complete with new views, seating and improved access for everyone.

Beneath Heathwall Quay runs part of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, a 25km underground sewer designed to stop millions of tonnes of untreated sewage from spilling into the river each year. The Mayor said the tunnel is “transforming the health of the Thames” and opening up riverside spaces for the public to enjoy. For many Londoners, this cleanup is long overdue.

In recent years, public frustration over sewage in our rivers has grown. Heavy rainfall often overwhelms the Victorian sewer system in London, leading to raw sewage pouring directly into the Thames - impacting water quality, wildlife and enjoyment of the river. While the new tunnel won’t stop all discharges overnight, it's already intercepting most of the overflow that would have gone into the river. The aim is not just a cleaner Thames, but one that’s safer, healthier and more inviting.

Heathwall Quay was unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Tideway, the company delivering the project. The Mayor was joined by Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova, London Assembly member Leonie Cooper, senior Tideway staff and other local representatives. Located just downstream of Battersea Power Station, the new public space also features high-quality paving and seating, and offers views across the river and along the Thames Path.

Read more about Friends of Nine Elms Parks.