A competition has been launched to transform and enhance the Falcon Bridge underpass in Clapham Junction. Architects, designers, and artists are invited to submit proposals for this project. Following selection and consultation, the winning team will see their project implemented by September 2025.
“Nobody likes the Falcon Road railway bridge“, we wrote in a previous article. The Council has finally decided to address the 100-metre-long tunnel beneath Falcon Road Bridge that divides Clapham Junction into its southern section, featuring Arding and Hobbs, Northcote Road, and Victorian terraces, and its northern part dominated by towers and estates.
In early August, the Council announced a design competition to transform the Falcon Road rail bridge underpass.They are inviting “architects, designers, and artists […] to submit their innovative proposals for a chance to rejuvenate this essential route which runs through the heart of Clapham Junction.” The competition aims to revitalize this space, turning it into a vibrant, artistic area that improves the environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.
This welcome initiative has been long anticipated. Six or seven years ago, the Council made some improvements to the tunnel: brighter lighting was installed, tiles were deep cleaned, and orange & pink feature lighting was added to some girders. While this was an improvement, it wasn’t ideal as the very bright lights disturbed birds at night.
- Read our article: What can we do about Falcon Road’s horrible railway bridge?
Furthermore, the improvements weren’t properly maintained, a crucial element in any such project, and the underpass deteriorated back to its current state after a few years. To compound matters, a major rail signaling upgrade led to large cable ducts being installed above head height on each side of the road, undoing some of the work by making the pavements feel even darker and more enclosed.
The Council stated they will be working with local partners to deliver the project. This initiative is a major element of the cultural offerings and art celebrations planned for next year, as Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, chose Wandsworth to become London Borough of Culture 2025.
The Transforming Falcon Road Bridge design competition is organised in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture. The goal is:
“To revitalise and renew the bridge and the route running beneath, turning it into a vibrant, artistic space.”
Information is available on the page dedicated to the project. It provides the key objectives that should frame the proposals:
- Creates a pleasant space that sparks joy for people, significantly improving the environment for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles
- Is impactful both during the day and at night
- Is bold and visually striking
- Improves accessibility and connectivity through enhanced wayfinding
- Reflects the diversity and unique character of the neighbourhood and instils a sense of local pride
- Promotes diversity in the design and delivery of the proposed scheme.
The competition guidelines insist that “designs must be practical and feasible within budget constraints, capable of withstanding all weather conditions, and serve the community well into the future.” The project budget is estimated at £2,000,000 + VAT. The design team will receive 12.5% of the money.
The process is set to move quickly, with the winner to be announced by the end of this year. The judging panel will initially shortlist up to six teams, and awarded an honorarium of £1,500 + VAT to develop their design proposals. Shortlisted entries will be displayed in early November, allowing the local community to participate in a public vote.
The winning team will be confirmed in December 2024 and, subject to procurement and governance procedures, will be awarded a design fee to consult on and develop a fully costed, feasible design, to be installed by the end of September 2025.
An identical competition was organised 6 years ago for Thessaly Road Bridge in Battersea, near New Covent Garden Market
The competition is similar to the one that was organised 6 years ago (also in partnership between Wandsworth Council and the London Festival of Architecture) for the Thessaly Road Railway Bridge in Battersea, near New Covent Garden Market. At the time, we wrote that it could be a very good idea to do exactly the same for Facon Bridge… unfortunately it took 6 years and a new administration for the Council to come to the same conclusions apparently.
The Council received 258 responses to the consultation and competition results are HERE (it provides good information for those who would like to enter the Falcon Bridge competition). Yinka Ilori’s proposal was the favourite among local residents and it was chosen as the winner in September 2018.
You can see the transformation it made to the bridge with this comparison before/after:
The total budget for the Thessaly Road Bridge transformation was £200,000, significantly less than the £2 million allocated for Falcon Bridge. It should offer many more possibilities for a major rework.
Once chosen, Yinka Ilori’s team received £20,000 to develop their design before the refurbishing happened.
A masterplan to improved the connection surrounded Clapham Junction station
In March this year, the Council launched an 18-month Clapham Junction Masterplan project with two phases: an interchange link for the station and potential development around the station. During a meeting with representatives of the community and local Societies, the Council also said that the project aims to improve the Falcon Road passage under the bridge. Adam Hutching, the Principal Planner for Policy at Wandsworth Council, explained that with Network Rail recently proposing improvements to the station connections, the Council quickly embraced the opportunity, necessitating swift action and working under significant time constraints initially.
A design team led by Weston Williamson and Partners (WW+P) has been appointed to work on solutions for improving connectivity between the northern side of the station (Grant Road and Winstanley Estate) and the southern part linking to Lavender Hill and Northcote Road. They aim to collaborate with project partners, including Network Rail, the Greater London Authority, Transport for London, and the ShopStop mall, as well as engage with local partners and communities to inform the masterplan work.
- Read our article: Clapham Junction Masterplan: initial presentation focusing on vague options for overpass bridges
An initial consultation was held at Battersea Library, but attendees expressed frustration at the lack of detailed information beyond the project team’s involvement. They emphasized the need for genuine engagement with the community which has an understanding of the area, while too often the consultations consists in a simple presentation of already developed options.
If you’re interested in entering the competition, you can attend an online drop-in session on 14 August 12.30pm – 1.30pm for a Q&A, and you can register here to attend.
You will find more details also on the Project Page with a form to apply. For technical queries, please contact Zealous Live Chat or via info@zealous.co
Interested applicants are invited to submit their expressions of interest by Thursday 12 September, 12pm.
