Policy information sourced from the Southwark Local Plan 2022
AV.02 Bankside and The Borough Area Vision
Bankside and The Borough are:
- At the heart of the commercial and cultural life of the capital where centuries old buildings intermingle with modern architecture. Attractions include Tate Modern, The Globe Theatre, Borough Market and Clink Street, Southwark Cathedral and views from the Thames Path;
- A globally significant central London business district, home to international headquarters and local enterprise. The local economy is notable for its diversity, including employers in the arts, culture, specialist retail, small businesses and entertainment, particularly along the River Thames;
- Characterised by their medieval and Victorian street layout linking commercial areas to residential neighbourhoods and interspersed with interesting spaces and excellent public realm that enthuses people to use the entire area;
- Mixed use neighbourhoods with a large proportion of affordable homes;
- Places where people enjoy local shops on Borough High Street and Great Suffolk Street;
- A transport hub with Blackfriars rail and tube stations, Borough tube station, Elephant and Castle and London Bridge stations nearby, many buses, river transport and cycling routes making all of the area accessible from both within and outside London.
- Of great archaeological interest containing nationally significant sites and scheduled monuments of Roman, medieval and post-medieval date.
Development in Bankside and The Borough should:
- Provide as many homes as possible while respecting the local character of each area, which in many places includes residential communities;
- Continue to consolidate Bankside and The Borough as part of the London Central Activities Zone; an international destination for business headquarters, small businesses, tourism and transportation that is entwined with historic communities with local services, open spaces and excellent transport links;
- Increase or improve the number and quality of local open spaces, squares and public realm;
- Improve existing and create new cycle and walking routes, including the Thames Path;
- Enable the delivery of the Low Line, a new public realm corridor adjacent to historic railway arches, with lively accessible spaces for creativity, new jobs and retail.
- Consider the Southbank and Waterloo Neighbourhood Plan.
Growth opportunities in Bankside and The Borough:
- Bankside and Borough are part of the London Central Activities Zone, the Bankside, Borough and London Bridge Opportunity Area delivering 10,000 new jobs and the Bankside and Borough District Town Centre. Site allocations in Bankside and the Borough will deliver at least 166,000sqm (gross) new offices and employment workspaces and around 0.3ha new open space. There are also many smaller development sites that could accommodate new homes and new employment space.
For more information please see the Southwark Local Plan 2022