Network Rail and Lambeth unveil vision for Waterloo station and surrounding area

Lambeth Council and Network Rail have released their long-term plan for the future development of London Waterloo station and the surrounding Waterloo and South Bank area.

The London Waterloo Station vision sets out a series of long-term aspirations to deliver improvements to both the station and wider area that will further improve the wider neighbourhood and make it easier and safer for people to move around, promote active travel and support the local economy.

The vision outlines a number of suggested improvements and upgrades including:

• Better Connections – 40+ enhanced walking and cycling routes, and 15+ improved gateways to the station and the City, helping encourage more active forms of travel and onward travel from the station.

• Redesigned northern concourse – A remodelled entrance at the northern end of the station to better interact with the public realm and surrounding areas immediately outside the station.

• New, southern station concourse – A new concourse in the south of the station to help improve passenger flow in, out and through the station, make the station even easier to navigate and reduce congestion on the existing concourse.

• Enhanced public spaces – New and improved multi-generational, inclusive and safe public spaces.

• More green infrastructure – 1,900m2 of new green space around the station with proposals for hundreds of new trees.

• Enhanced bus and taxi interchange – some existing bus and taxi stops will be relocated to a new enhanced interchange on the south-eastern side of the station, providing easier and more direct access.

• Creation of new workspace, a retail and leisure offer and employment opportunities.

Network Rail and Lambeth Council, in partnership with South Bank Employers’ Group, South Bank BID, We Are Waterloo and local developers HB Reavis, Bourne Capital, LCR, and SB Royal Holdings commissioned Grimshaw Architects to develop the Vision document as a framework to help realise Waterloo’s full potential as a connected, safe, and thriving net-zero neighbourhood with an integrated world-class station at its heart.

London Waterloo station is the third busiest transport hub in the country with 57.8m entries and exits last year and is a major gateway into the City, as well as to the Waterloo and South Bank area which boasts iconic cultural institutions and leisure attractions including the Southbank Centre, National Theatre, BFI, the Old Vic, and the London Eye.

Lambeth Council, Network Rail and partners will bring forward a programme of short-term investment to begin delivering the vision and there will be further engagement with residents, businesses, and stakeholders to refine and develop detailed proposals.

Network Rail chair, Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill, said, “We are delighted to be working with Lambeth Council on an exciting long-term plan to transform London Waterloo station.

“London Waterloo is iconic, and one of the busiest stations in the country, and it is imperative this station continues to evolve to ensure it is a world class transport hub and meets the needs of the millions of passengers that use the station each year, today and into the future.

“This a significant but first step towards realising this ambition, and there is a great deal of work to do to progress this forward and find funding. We look forward to working with our wider partners, passengers, local businesses and organisations, and the local community, as we refine these plans.”

Lambeth Council leader, Cllr Claire Holland, said, “Waterloo and South Bank is hugely important to Lambeth’s economy and culture and is the gateway to millions of visitors’ journeys every year. The area is home to leading educational, cultural, and healthcare institutions as well as exciting start-ups at the forefront of the medical tech, digital, and the green economy.

“It’s increasingly a place for business to locate to, and significant, high-quality developments in the pipeline will bring new homes and workspaces. The vision document provides a strong framework for this change and will allow us to harness and shape the investment in Waterloo and South Bank to make sure spaces are safe, accessible, and welcoming for our residents and visitors to the area.”

Grimshaw Partner, Kirsten Lees, said, “Waterloo is an extraordinary neighbourhood, and this masterplan is designed to help it meet its full potential through a framework that is visionary and aspirational but critically pragmatic and has a phased approach.

“The Waterloo and South Bank area of tomorrow will be one of London’s healthiest, most sustainable, diverse and successful centres with an integrated world-class multimodal transport and civic hub at its heart. This evolution will bring equitable change for communities, business, visitors and passengers alike.”