This year is set to be an exciting time for the future of London Bridge's physical landscape. The much anticipated station redevelopment is reaching completion (on course for full running capacity in June, with over 70 retail units to be fully occupied by October); the works surrounding the station have become a catalyst for many of the placeshaping projects set out
in our London
Bridge Plan.
Here's a guide to the evolving
landscape of London Bridge in 2018.
St Thomas Street has been partially closed since 2013, but is due to be handed back to Transport for London for re-opening.
Team London Bridge have worked closely with TfL and our businesses to form a strategy which
will help create our ‘St Thomas Street
Boulevard’ vision. The road will re-open to one-way westbound 10mph traffic only,
and only to authorised vehicles. You can find out more and respond to TfL here.
Plans are also starting to take shape on future developments
along the street. The owners of Capital House have done a public
exhibition for this key site outside the station, and Network Rail will vacate
its large temporary offices. A new Area Vision will
start to emerge for how this street will look and feel like in future years –
as set out in the New Southwark Plan. Our role at TLB is to ensure that
partners are working together to realise the potential for: a vibrant high
street and visitor destination; a focus on commercial space; excellent public
realm; contemporary architecture responding to the unique placemarks and
heritage; and flourishing greenery.
As one of the Mayor
of London’s ‘Low Emission Neighbourhoods’, we will take the opportunity to instigate change through projects to create #BetterAir. One of our #BetterAir
routes will link St Thomas Street and the beautiful new Kings’s courtyard and
Borough High Street via the historic Inns and Yards – using greenery and
planting to bring joy and tranquillity to this busy area (and understanding the
impact through this new app https://tranquilpavement.com/.
Other fresh air routes through the area will be decorated in stunning colourful
street crossings in the autumn.
Concept drawing courtesy of United Practice Architects
As Thameslink contractors move out of the railway arches on
Holyrood Street, new spaces and arches will start to emerge. We are currently
concluding some initial concept design ideas with Studio Weave/ 00 Architects and will be taking forward
activities to make this part of the Low
Line a distinctive and appealing destination and walking route. Look out
for more activity over the summer.
Tooley Street
will also be passed back from Network Rail to TfL in the summer. We will be
working hard with our partners as this becomes two-way again, to ensure this
does not come filled up with traffic, and that it supports the huge numbers
coming out of the station (and we love the width of the crossing in front of
Hays Galleria), as well as buses and safe cycling.
New cycle parking will be installed around the station, and
we are launching a cycling strategy
to set out clear actions to support an increase in cycling over the long-term,
so expect some events coming up to help make cycling more appealing. You can
sign up for our cycle updates here
All this change can be difficult to notice amidst our busy lives, which is why we'll be working with our creative partners and businesses to showcase the developments in London
Bridge through an array of events celebrating the London
Festival of Architecture.
If you'd like to know more about Placeshaping in London Bridge, please do get in touch.
- Jack Skillen, Placeshaping Director.