Bankside Yards

Bankside Yards sits on a prominent location along the River Thames in the London Borough of Southwark. It lies at the heart of the riverside cultural district that extends from the Tate Modern and Borough Market to Southbank Centre and the National Theatre. In addition, the emerging cluster of towers at the foot of Blackfriars Bridge is helping it to become one of the Borough’s key gateways. The 1.4 million ft2 site is separated into two portions, the Eastern Yards and the Western Yards, by a historic elevated railway line leading to the redeveloped Blackfriars Station. It previously housed two large, divisive and outdated buildings that were incongruous with the fabric of the surrounding neighbourhood and which, together with the closed arches of the line, physically blocked east-west movement across the site. The project’s brief sought to change this, delivering a mixed-use residential-led scheme focussed on cultural placemaking and neighbourhood integration and organised around reinvigorated railway arches and an expanded Thames Path. Besides containing a significant public realm, it needed to activate new links to surrounding streets and pathways and become a viable community asset, drawing together the established commercial, retail, cultural and residential worlds in this part of the Borough. Our master plan for the site establishes a significant destination quarter with 600 market-rate and affordable homes, offices, a five-star hotel and cultural, retail and leisure amenities. These are organised into eight unique towers (three on the Western Yards and five on the Eastern Yards) of varying height and design that step down towards the south to ensure proper integration with surrounding lower neighbourhoods. The rail viaduct, a key remnant of Southwark’s rich industrial heritage, will become one of the project’s centrepieces. Its distinct historic arches have been renovated and opened up to accommodate new passageways and 50,000 ft2 of new retail, restaurant and cultural amenities. These will be surrounded by three acres of newly created public open spaces, with extensive green areas and a sweeping stairway leading down to the riverside. A central square, east-west pedestrian links, a north-south promenade and interface with the new entrance of the redeveloped Blackfriars Station will enable enhanced connections up to and across the site. This vibrant public realm will respond to the identity and character of the neighbourhood and define a hierarchy of distinct functions, from living and workspaces to areas for play and creativity. The redevelopment will create a varied and active precinct for residents, encouraging and complementing business growth and enriching the world-renowned arts and cultural institutes and thriving performing arts venues nearby.