Details of the planned £4.5million overhaul of a “dirty and unsafe” underpass in South London have been unveiled, as part of the area’s regeneration.
Wandsworth Council has submitted formal plans to revamp Falcon Road Bridge and the route underneath it, which allows pedestrians, cyclists and drivers to pass beneath Clapham Junction station.
The scheme would see new panels installed along the walls of the 100-metre-long underpass, featuring artwork from local artists, if it is approved by the council. Illuminated signs would be put up on both sides of the bridge, while street lights would be installed along the route and coloured lighting shone onto the ceiling.
The southern entrance to the underpass would be transformed with new plants and seating, where residents and visitors could gather. Existing adverts on either side of the bridge would also be replaced with artwork.
The council recently submitted the planning application after choosing a design team made up of GPAD, POoR Collective, MRG Studio, Sutton Vane Associates, Cundall, and MDA Consulting as winners of a competition asking for proposals to revamp the underpass, which it ran with London Festival of Architecture last year.
The council will decide on the application at a date yet to be confirmed, with the aim of completing the works by the end of the year.
A previous report by council officers said the “extremely dirty and damp” underpass had long been identified by residents as the part of Clapham Junction that needed most improvement. The important route allows pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles to flow beneath Clapham Junction station, which is one of the busiest stations in Europe.
The report said respondents to a recent council survey wanted the underpass to be improved “because it felt neglected, dirty and unsafe”. Many women who responded described feeling unsafe walking through the underpass, including “one night worker being followed after a shift and incidents of catcalling reported, with many women expressing their reluctance to walk through the underpass alone”.
The total approved budget for the scheme is £4.5m, including £500,000 for pre-construction work, £2.7m for construction work and a contingency of £1.3m.
Application documents said the project “aims to transform the Falcon Road underpass into a safer, more inclusive, and welcoming space”.
The scheme is the first step in wider plans being drawn up for the regeneration of Clapham Junction. The London Plan 2021, from the Greater London Authority (GLA), indicates the area could accommodate 2,500 new homes and 2,500 extra jobs, on top of the capacity for growth in the Winstanley and York Road regeneration area.
The council is putting together a masterplan for Clapham Junction to translate these policies into development proposals. It is working with stakeholders, including the GLA, TfL, Network Rail and landowners, to meet emerging targets for the area and improve the station.
