Competition opens to create new design for Nine Elms railway arch

By Sian Bayley, Local Democracy Reporter

A railway arch in Nine Elms leading to the new Northern line extension stations is set to be transformed.

Wandsworth council, in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture, has launched an open call for designers, architects and artists to improve the historic railway arch known as Arch 42.

It will be a key public route leading to new London Underground stations at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station, linking up with pedestrian and cycle routes running through Nine Elms.

Leader of Wandsworth council, Councillor Ravi Govindia, said he was “delighted” that a new route would help to “bring together residents and businesses on both sides of the railway line and provide a new attraction for visitors to the area”.

The competition follows 2019’s ‘Happy Street’ redesign of the Thessaly Road underpass in Nine Elms by artist Yinka Ilori, also organised by Wandsworth council and the London Festival of Architecture (LFA).

To encourage more people to participate in the competition, the council and LFA are hosting an online meeting on Tuesday to discuss how to put a successful competition submission together.

You can find out how to prepare an entry at www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org

The deadline for the first stage of the competition – a simple call for expressions of interest – is 12noon on Friday, October 23.

Shortlisted teams will then be asked to develop their proposals for a public exhibition in November.

The overall winning design will be installed ahead of the opening of the Northern line extension, expected to be in autumn 2021.

Pictured top: The ‘Happy Street’ redesign of the Thessaly Road underpass in Nine Elms by artist Yinka Ilori