The WWT London Wetland Centre opened in 2000. Prior to development the 42 hectare site comprised four
disused water supply reservoirs. An innovative funding arrangement between the site’s owner Thames
Water (a public water company), Berkeley Homes (a private housing developer) and the Wildfowl &
Wetlands Trust (WWT) (a UK-based NGO) facilitated the redevelopment of the site and the creation of an
award winning urban nature reserve. Land which formerly housed Thames Water’s water treatment works
was sold for housing development to Berkeley Homes.