Falcon Road rail bridge renewal project

Clapham Junction's new-look underpass was opened in December 2025 after six months of improvement works, in partnership with Network Rail.

We transformed the Falcon Road bridge underpass from a dark, unwelcoming route to a brighter, lighter and safer place to be, after listening to residents and local businesses who asked for improvements.

From jet-washing and pigeon-proofing, to fixing rust, painting the roof and putting new CCTV in, we cleaned up the 100m-long underpass before installing the colourful wall panels using artwork developed through community workshops, drawing on local heritage and landmarks.

As part of local neighbourhood improvements, the council-led renewal has been paid for with funding the council collects and controls from property developers, at no cost to local taxpayers. 

The colourful upgraded route linking north and south of Clapham Junction town centre was completed during Wandsworth's year as London Borough of Culture 2025.

Improvements include:

• New artwork cladding along the length of both walls underneath the bridge
• Enhanced lighting
• Pigeon-proofing
• New paint to the bridge structures
• New CCTV covering the whole underpass
• Landscaping to the south side of the bridge

The collaborative design team of GPAD, POoR Collective, MRG Studio, and Sutton Vane Associates have worked to address key community concerns such as safety, lighting and noise reduction. The artwork on the panels was designed by Smiling Wolf, then the cladding panels were fabricated and installed by AJ Wells. The lighting and electrics were installed by Armadillo.

All works on-site, including traffic management, were coordinated by the main contractor FM Conway.

Read about the launch event held to celebrate the new-look underpass.

What happens next

We are now planning further improvements in 2026 along the Falcon Road corridor between Lavender Hill and Battersea Park Road. We want to improve the road surface and pavements and create a better pedestrian route with new zebra crossings and landscaping.

Background

Clapham Junction's Falcon Road rail bridge had a colourful makeover in 2025 following an architectural design competition run by Wandsworth Council and London Festival of Architecture.

The work started in July 2025 with support from partners including Network Rail and Shopstop.

These improvement works follow extensive resident engagement and over 1,000 survey responses to help select the winning design team. The design team has developed the artwork through community engagement and resident input.

About the design

Members of the GPAD-led design team have connections with the Wandsworth area and have put the local community, including young people, at the centre of their approach.

Central to the design is the concept of community ownership:

• Dynamic lighting: Responsive and artistic lighting enhances visibility and celebrates local cultural events, creating a vibrant and safe space day and night
• Green gateway: A focus on air quality and biodiversity introduces pollinator-friendly plants and accessible micro-gardens
• Community wayfinding and art: The underpass features a 'Memories of Wandsworth' wayfinding wall, co-designed with local residents, celebrating landmarks and stories through art and dynamic murals
• Acoustic comfort: Panels integrated with artistic elements reduce noise and improve comfort for all users, including neurodivergent individuals

Contact

Email falconroadbridge@wandsworth.gov.uk for additional information about the project.