Waterloo station masterplan

[Snow1964]

New plan from Network Rail and Lambeth Council

Lambeth Council and Network Rail have joined forces with many partners to develop an ambitious 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 and its 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 and Lambeth Council unveil future vision for London Waterloo station and its surrounding area

Lambeth Council and Network Rail have joined forces with many partners to develop an ambitious long-term plan for the future development of London Waterloo station and the surrounding Waterloo and South Bank area.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Artist's impression of a potential future station undercroft

Information for journalists, press, bloggers and the media about Network Rail. Contact the press office to receive news, updates, press releases, videos, pictures, and factsheets, and to arrange interviews, filming and photography

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

The full 32 page document is here

https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-03/WSM_Summary%20Vision%20Statement.pdf

 

[yorksrob]

What do we think. Another New Street style dungeon ?

 

[Snow1964]

What do we think. Another New Street style dungeon ?

More like standing inside a fort or castle.

It appears roof stays, but more tall buildings around it, and cab road to Lower Marsh area seems to disappear and there will no longer be a road there.

 

[yorksrob]

More like standing inside a fort or castle.

It appears roof stays, but more tall buildings around it, and cab road to Lower Marsh area seems to disappear and there will no longer be a road there.

That's good in that case. As long as the roof stays, I'm more or less happy.

 

[Recessio]

I like that the render still shows plants growing out the top of the viaduct. Presumably this will cost a few million quid and they still can't buy some weed killer to tackle the buddleiah...

I think this looks good though. Especially the focus on pedestrian and cycling "permeability" and the local environment, right now stepping out of the main archway into a mess of busy roads and steep staircases isn't exactly welcoming nor clear.

 

[AM9]

What do we think. Another New Street style dungeon ?

Absolutely not. New St. has below ground level platforms, Waterloo has them above ground, -there's no intention of lowering the tracks. Waterloo is predominately a terminus with a separate 4 platform through station, whereas NS is just a through station. Waterloo already has 4 tube routes beneath the undercroft which is beneath the termnus platform level, NS doesn't have either.
I think the plan looks to build on the better parts of other London termini by exploiting the undercroft, a la St Pancras and London Bridge, - historically, parts of the undercroft have served as quick access to the busiest platforms for decades.
No, Waterloo would be nothing like New St.

 

[The exile]

I like that the render still shows plants growing out the top of the viaduct. Presumably this will cost a few million quid and they still can't buy some weed killer to tackle the buddleiah...

Isn’t it more the case that they aren’t allowed to use a weed killer that would actually kill weeds as it has a nasty habit of killing other things as well?

 

[nlogax]

NR have really lucked out with the glut of undercrofts at London termini. I don't know the scale of those underneath Waterloo but the masterplan document seems to suggest there is a *lot* of space down there. Am simultaneously enthusiastic about how this will turn out and grateful to avoid what will be a construction nightmare for the next decade should this come to pass.

 

[hwl]

What do we think. Another New Street style dungeon ?

A second ground level mini London Bridge style concourse (escalators from platforms).
Improved Waterloo East access from the main concourse level using the old track bridge not the current high level footbridge.
Far fewer blind corners and lots of natural light.
Same team of architects and engineers that did London Bridge.

NR have really lucked out with the glut of undercrofts at London termini. I don't know the scale of those underneath Waterloo but the masterplan document seems to suggest there is a *lot* of space down there.

Waterloo undercrofts are off the scale compared to anywhere else but lots isn't particularly usable by the public.

Am simultaneously enthusiastic about how this will turn out and grateful to avoid what will be a construction nightmare for the next decade should this come to pass.

Shouldn't be too bad as it could be done in lots of little bits without too much impact unlike London bridge. Whether the could happens is another matter!

 

[davews]

Maybe they should look at the success (or not) of the Sidings before suggesting even more shops in the undercroft. Plans look impressive in some areas, and easier access to the south bank is long overdue, but much of this seems pie in the air.

 

[yorksrob]

A second ground level mini London Bridge style concourse (escalators from platforms).
Improved Waterloo East access from the main concourse level using the old track bridge not the current high level footbridge.
Far fewer blind corners and lots of natural light.
Same team of architects and engineers that did London Bridge.


Waterloo undercrofts are off the scale compared to anywhere else but lots isn't particularly usable by the public.


Shouldn't be too bad as it could be done in lots of little bits without too much impact unlike London bridge. Whether the could happens is another matter!

The escalator down to MacDonalds works well, so I could see this concept of using undercroft space being expanded.

 

[nlogax]

Maybe they should look at the success (or not) of the Sidings before suggesting even more shops in the undercroft. Plans look impressive in some areas, and easier access to the south bank is long overdue, but much of this seems pie in the air.

It looks like a usable undercroft would finally drive some traffic to the Sidings. Certainly Brewdog or Nando's can't do it alone.

 

[swt_passenger]

It looks like a usable undercroft would finally drive some traffic to the Sidings. Certainly Brewdog or Nando's can't do it alone.

Don’t the “Sidings“ become more visible to the public on completion of rebuilding the south side of York Rd to open everything up into a public space?

 

[30907]

It appears roof stays, but more tall buildings around it, and cab road to Lower Marsh area seems to disappear and there will no longer be a road there.

The Cab Road in front of the station goes, the SE side (including Spur Rd) becomes bus/taxi facilities.
Not quite so keen on what looks like a tower block between the General Offices and Waterloo Road, but the basic ideas look sound.

 

[Recessio]

Same team of architects and engineers that did London Bridge.

Oh christ, I hope not.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Is there anything particularly wrong with Waterloo as it is?

 

[yorksrob]

Is there anything particularly wrong with Waterloo as it is?

It seems pretty effective as is, whenever I use it. Perhaps the only down point is the tunnel to the underground is a bit of a maze.

 

[Tobberz]

Looks like the Hole in the Wall Pub will have to go if they're clearing out the space beneath the viaduct.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

Opening up access to the south bank would be nice. It was easier when they had the exit that crossed the road into the shell centre.

 

[MPW]

Selfishly I'm most interested in how the connection to Waterloo East can be improved for my SE services

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

Looks like the Hole in the Wall Pub will have to go if they're clearing out the space beneath the viaduct.

That would be a shame the place is an institution. I would hope that it can be incorporated into the retail plan

 

[Horizon22]

It looks like a usable undercroft would finally drive some traffic to the Sidings. Certainly Brewdog or Nando's can't do it alone.

Yeah it will take some time to bed in I think. I walked through on a fairly busy Saturday just a few weeks ago and it was still very low footfall.

 

[AM9]

Is there anything particularly wrong with Waterloo as it is?

It is quite pedestrian hostile and the provisions for accessibility are not particularly good. The main entrance/exit (steps) tips pedestrians out onto a pavement hemmed in by the Cab Road, Mepham Street and York Road. To the east, pedestrians have to cross the cab road, then down two flights of steps and follow the road down to ground level, - in total, about 400m from the small exit near P1 to the first southbound bus stop on Waterloo Road (the Old Vic).
Waterloo needs to be more than a quick interchange with the tube lines that pass it, - it's environs are a) a destination in their own right and b) comprise a living community.

 

[Horizon22]

Selfishly I'm most interested in how the connection to Waterloo East can be improved for my SE services

Between the main station and Waterloo East? It's already fairly direct, even if it feels a bit dingy. Could definitely be better at the ground level exits though.

 

[AM9]

Yeah it will take some time to bed in I think. I walked through on a fairly busy Saturday just a few weeks ago and it was still very low footfall.

I seem to racall that there was a pedestrian bridge from what is now Jubilee Gardens, through the Shell Building, then across York Road, emerging in the station near the Windsor platforms' buffers. Did alll of that disappear when the CTRL platforms were built?

 

[gabrielhj07]

Maybe they should look at the success (or not) of the Sidings before suggesting even more shops in the undercroft. Plans look impressive in some areas, and easier access to the south bank is long overdue, but much of this seems pie in the air.

Do people even know it's there? I often cut through from the Northern/Bakerloo gateline to the international platforms and I'm almost always outnumbered by the security detail.

The escalator down to MacDonalds works well, so I could see this concept of using undercroft space being expanded.

I find that McDonalds footfall keeps the escalator crowded and gets in the way of Jubilee line traffic. Good opportunity to move it.

I seem to racall that there was a pedestrian bridge from what is now Jubilee Gardens, through the Shell Building, then across York Road, emerging in the station near the Windsor platforms' buffers. Did alll of that disappear when the CTRL platforms were built?

There was a thread on here a while ago about the redevelopment of that area necessitating its closure. Something to do with Lambeth council specifically wanting to have pedestrians cross York road at street level as well.

 

[AY1975]

There is the question of how the Waterloo Freight Hub proposed by the Cross River Partnership would fit into this scheme. Basically it would involve using some of the station undercroft to receive and sort rail freight bound for central London destinations: https://crossriverpartnership.org/w...rds-a-Waterloo-Freight-Hub-October-2023-1.pdf

There doesn't appear to be any specific reference to the Freight Hub scheme in the masterplan document, although towards the end the document does mention "Creating local hubs for skills, supplies and safeguarded community spaces, such as maker spaces, freight consolidation..."

This new Waterloo station masterplan is a much longer-term project than the Freight Hub scheme, though.

It seems pretty effective as is, whenever I use it. Perhaps the only down point is the tunnel to the underground is a bit of a maze.

And the lack of step-free access to any of the Tube lines apart from the Jubilee Line (and, I believe, the southbound Bakerloo Line platform, and there's a ramp to the Waterloo & City platforms but this may not be suitable for unaccompanied wheelchair users). The document does mention step-free access at all entrances and new direct links to the LU ticket hall. One would assume that the latter would incorporate step-free access.

Between the main station and Waterloo East? It's already fairly direct, even if it feels a bit dingy. Could definitely be better at the ground level exits though.

The document does also mention a direct link to Waterloo East.

 

[MikeWM]

It is quite pedestrian hostile and the provisions for accessibility are not particularly good. The main entrance/exit (steps) tips pedestrians out onto a pavement hemmed in by the Cab Road, Mepham Street and York Road.

It wasn't accessible of course, but the entrance to the IMAX subway that was there until relatively recently was a quick way of getting out and across to the South Bank, without having to navigate the maze of roads immediately outside the Victory Arch. But they've closed it and indeed removed all evidence of its existence.

I seem to racall that there was a pedestrian bridge from what is now Jubilee Gardens, through the Shell Building, then across York Road, emerging in the station near the Windsor platforms' buffers. Did alll of that disappear when the CTRL platforms were built?

Significantly more recently than that - probably 6-8 years ago, around the same time the Tube entrance in the Shell Building was closed (although the latter reopened again a couple of years later).

 

[Ashley Hill]

Reading that document is like a game of Buzzword Bingo! One phrase in it sums it all up:-
“Unlocking development value and maximising the potential of underutilised assets to fund improvements across Waterloo.”
I.e Let’s make some money. Once the stations ruined improvements are paid for it will be the cash cow that keeps the developers bank balance in its happy place for years to come.
The only issues that really need to be dealt with are the accessibility ones.

 

[swt_passenger]

I seem to racall that there was a pedestrian bridge from what is now Jubilee Gardens, through the Shell Building, then across York Road, emerging in the station near the Windsor platforms' buffers. Did alll of that disappear when the CTRL platforms were built?

It was comparatively recent, coincident with the intended rebuild of the office building it went through. But IIRC the bridge over York Road closed in advance. If you left the station that way you had to descend steps within the building on the station side of York Road anyway. As said the local authority has a general policy of putting pedestrians back at street level, and has closed various subways in the same area. I think the idea is that in the end state the old Eurostar ‘orchestra pit’ level becomes an external ground level exit towards York Road.