The future of a picturesque playing field is looking brighter after Thames Water announced this week it is considering alternative sites to build a ‘super sewer’ entrance.

Barn Elms playing fields, between Putney and Barnes, is earmarked as a site for a main drive shaft of the Thames Tunnel project, but the water company said on March 8 that three brownfield sites in Fulham are now being considered as options.

The announcement follows a campaign from Wandsworth Council, Putney MP Justine Greening and residents’ group Stop The Shaft to save the stretch of the riverside from the seven year long development.

The options being looked at are Whiffin Wharf, Hurlingham Wharf and Carnwath Business Park in South Fulham but the water company has still not ruled out using the playing fields.

Wandsworth Council leader Councillor Edward Lister said: "This is very encouraging news. Thames Water is clearly taking the campaign to save Barn Elms seriously and is looking hard at alternative sites.

“We cannot take anything for granted and will continue to pile on the pressure at every opportunity.

"If the water company does move the main tunnelling site over the river there would still be some activity at Barn Elms because of the need to connect the local combined sewer overflow to the new tunnel.

“However the land-take could be very much reduced, the precise location reconsidered and project timescales substantially curtailed.”

A public consultation on the revised proposal will take place in September 2011 and a final decision on the site locations and tunnelling strategy is expected in 2012.

Putney MP Justine Greening said of the news: “Having spoken to Thames Water on Friday I am really encouraged to see it has listened to residents’ concerns about the use of Barn Elms as a main drive shaft site and is actively looking at other options.

“I have stressed the need for a brownfield site to be used and clearly the proposed Carnwath Road Riverside site has this advantage.

“It is still very much an active development process so I will continue to work with Thames Water to get a better Thames Tunnel solution for our community.”

Ms Greening also announced the first meeting of her working group she has set up will take place on March 17, with Thames Water also confirming they will fund independent experts to support and advise the group.