Policy information sourced from the Southwark Local Plan 2022
AV.11 London Bridge Area Vision
London Bridge is:
- A globally significant central London business district which is home to international business headquarters, centres of academic and health excellence at King’s College London and Guy’s Hospital as well as a local destination and town centre;
- Internationally renowned for its prominent riverfront location providing cultural spaces and retail, including Borough Market and riverside access;
- An area with a rich heritage preserved in historic monuments, buildings, yards, public spaces, vistas, cityscapes and archaeology;
- One of the UK’s busiest and fastest growing transport hubs, that has increased rail and river capacity and improved walking and cycling provision and the quality of the public realm;
- Of great archaeological interest, containing nationally significant sites and scheduled monuments of Roman, medieval and port-medieval date
Development in London Bridge should:
- Attract global commerce with headquarter and local offices and build on its reputation for arts and crafts, food and trade while serving local needs through its town centre role;
- Support the creation of a distinctive and inspiring world class environment through a mix of inspiring new architecture, restored and reactivated warehouses and other heritage revealed with ‘placemarks’, public art and quality public realm that provides openness, connectivity and a ‘green grid’. Greenery and innovations in environmental resilience should be incorporated into buildings;
- Build on the fabric of local alleyways and yards to create quiet, green routes with clean air;
- Strengthen the cultural offer of the area and diversify activities and shops;
- Make sure the new standard of London Bridge Station is upheld and the Shard remains significantly taller and more visible than surrounding buildings as the station’s landmark;
- Improve local accessibility and interchange at the station with enhanced walking, cycling, tube, bus and boat routes;
- Contribute towards the development of the Low Line, a new public realm corridor adjacent to historic railway arches, with lively accessible spaces for creativity, new jobs and retail;
- Harness the expertise and infrastructure from Kings College London, Guy’s Hospital and other medical and science facilities to develop a strong, dynamic and specialised local economy that will attract new specialised services and research and promote heath and wellbeing in the local environment.
- Enhance the sense of place and visitor and cultural activities along the Thames riverfront, and encourage use of riverboat services, waterborne freight and the Thames Path in a safe and sustainable way;
- Support the development of vibrant new high streets on St Thomas Street, Crucifix Lane and Tooley Street, complementing the distinct character of nearby Bermondsey Street.
Growth opportunities in London Bridge:
- London Bridge has experienced significant transformation with the delivery of the London Bridge Shard Quarter, More London riverside development, the Shard tower and News Building. London Bridge station completed a £1 billion redevelopment in 2018 including new entrances on Tooley Street and St Thomas Street, a new concourse providing step free access to every platform, following the installation of new lifts and escalators, the reconfiguration of tracks and new platforms, new shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
- London Bridge is part of the London Central Activities Zone, the Bankside, Borough and London Bridge Opportunity Area delivering 10,000 new jobs and the London Bridge District Town Centre. London Bridge has the potential to grow its strategic office provision, shops, leisure, culture, science and medical facilities. The site allocations in London Bridge will deliver around 57,000sqm (gross) offices and employment workspaces, 2,100sqm (gross) retail, community and leisure floorspace. London Bridge will also contribute towards meeting the borough’s housing needs.
For more information please see the Southwark Local Plan 2022