Old brewery land next to the River Thames in Kingston town centre will be transformed with seats, flowers and a children's trail.

Kingston Council has approved plans it submitted to revamp Eagle Brewery Wharf, where the Eagle Brewery was based until it shut in 1914.

The site, along Riverside Walk, will be redesigned with a central seating island created by a raised timber platform, which could also be used as a stage. A total of 19 extra trees will be planted, along with new planting beds and a flowering lawn at the edge of the site featuring a play trail of stepping stones, boulders, a rope bridge and tree circle. There will also be space for pop-ups, public art installations, markets and activities including exercise classes.

More seating will be added across the site, including new riverfront seating pods, seating pockets and timber seats built into planters. A swift tower, with nesting places for the birds, will be built where the old brewery's chimney once stood to create a landmark for the site, which will have artwork and historic plaques marking its heritage. There will also be a new insect hotel, hedgehog house and loggery, while metal railings will be installed along the riverfront to improve safety.

The site last saw improvements back in 2010. (Photo: Farrer Huxley via Kingston Council)

The council's planning committee unanimously approved the scheme on 9 July. Lib Dem councillor Mark Beynon said the plans will improve the area and he hopes people will 'treat it with a bit more respect' as a result. Lib Dem councillor Olly Wehring added: "That something's finally happening in that area is fantastic."

Planning documents said the scheme was designed by architects Farrer Huxley to be as 'inclusive and imaginative as possible'. It aims to reduce anti-social behaviour at the site, which has risen in recent years, and improve safety in the town centre.

The documents added: "The proposals will create a beautiful and activated space where everyone can unwind, enjoy and connect with nature. The application presents a significant improvement to an existing public open space, which will deliver multiple environmental and social benefits."

The former brewery was turned into a coal wharf before it was bought and demolished by the council in 1970. The site became public open space in 1988 and most recently underwent improvements in 2010.

The scheme is part of a series of projects being delivered by the council and Kingston First, the town centre's business improvement district, to regenerate the town centre and make it cleaner, greener and safer. The council said the first big change planned for the town centre is the creation of 'beautifully transformed riverside spaces' and identified Eagle Brewery Wharf as an opportunity to achieve this.