The station is located in Sands End where the line crosses Townmead Road. It takes its name from the adjacent redevelopment of a brownfield, former industrial, site, which has been developed into a luxury 1,800 apartment river-side complex by property developers St George.
As the Imperial Wharf development continued to grow, so did the business case for the Imperial Wharf station.
The station is also adjacent to Chelsea Harbour, and was known by this name during early stages of development.