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Livingstone reveals his vision for Waterloo

London SE1 website team

The Mayor of London has published his draft planning framework for Waterloo. Proposals include a new 'town square' and development above the station.

Waterloo station


Ken Livingstone says that his proposals would bring new homes and jobs and improved design to the area.

According to the Mayor's office, poor overall planning and design over many decades has allowed the area to be developed without proper co-ordination and this is what the draft framework seeks to address.

The draft Waterloo Development Framework includes Waterloo station and the South Bank from St Thomas' Hospital to Gabriel's Wharf, identified as an ‘opportunity area' in the Mayor's strategy for the capital's development, the London Plan.

Proposals include improvements to the public realm – and creating an attractive Town Square where local people and visitors will want to gather.

The Town Square would stretch from Lower Marsh and Waterloo Millennium Green to the IMAX Cinema. Through traffic would be banished from Waterloo Road, with priority given to public transport, pedestrians and cyclists.

The Mayor will also encourage the development of "world-class" buildings above the station to harness the area's potential to provide thousands of new homes and jobs.

The framework seeks to improve the layout of Waterloo as a major transport interchange and envisages partnership with Network Rail to improve the accessibility and capacity of Waterloo Station.

"Waterloo is the gateway to the South Bank, one of the world's leading cultural centres, but we could improve the area's attractiveness, layout and economy by properly planning its future," says Ken Livingstone. "My vision for Waterloo's development over the next generation would bring thousands of new homes and jobs to Waterloo and greatly improve its layout and public space, making it more attractive, vibrant and easier to get around."

The draft document


Ted Inman, Chief Executive of South Bank Employers' Group, responded: "We welcome the launch of the Waterloo Development Framework Consultation Draft and will be responding fully. We represent fifteen major organisations in the Waterloo area and we all want to see better public realm and business growth. The new jobs proposed in the Framework will benefit London, the local economy and those living in deprived areas nearby. We hope the adopted Framework will be a springboard for economic success, public realm improvements and community benefit."

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: "There is an exciting future on the horizon for the Waterloo area. This is the vision contained in this Development Framework document. Network Rail is committed to playing its part in realising this vision by delivering a 21st century station that addresses growing passenger demand and improves transport interchange and connectability. The commercial development we plan will aid regeneration and we look forward to engaging with all interested parties."

The draft framework is endorsed for consultation by the Mayor as well as by the London Development Agency, Transport for London, Network Rail and the London Borough of Lambeth. The consultation closes at the end of April.

The document is available from the Mayor of London's website.

The draft framework comes a week after P&O released the first images of three towers planned for the Elizabeth House site between Waterloo Station and York Road.

• Responses should be sent to Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, (Draft Waterloo Development Framework), Greater London Authority, FREEPOST 15799, London SE1 2BR – or by email to [email protected]">[email protected] with 'Draft Waterloo Development Framework' as the subject.

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