Falcon Road rail bridge renewal project

Over the past six months, in partnership with Network Rail, we have been working hard to transform the Falcon Road rail bridge underpass from a dark, unwelcoming route to a brighter, lighter and safer place to be.

This project came about after listening to residents and local businesses who asked for improvements.

Project completed

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

This work has been paid for with funding we collect and control from property developers, at no cost to local taxpayers.

Improvements include:

• New artwork cladding along the length of both walls underneath the bridge
• Enhanced lighting
• Pigeon-proofing
• New paint to the bridge structures
• 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 is to have a colourful makeover in 2025 following an architectural design competition run by Wandsworth Council and London Festival of Architecture.

About the project

The bridge will undergo a dramatic transformation, from a dark and unwelcoming route under the railway to becoming a vibrant and inclusive community landmark in the heart of the town centre.

Final design

The winning design prioritises community engagement, sustainability, and safety, with a design that reflects the rich cultural identity of Wandsworth. The new bridge design will be completed in December 2025, during Wandsworth's year as London Borough of Culture 2025.

The collaborative design team of GPAD, POoR Collective, MRG Studio, Sutton Vane Associates, Cundall and MDA Consulting are addressing key community concerns such as safety, lighting, and noise reduction.

Community engagement

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 to create a brighter and more welcoming underpass, paid for with contributions from property developers.

Enhancing the area

The improvement project, in partnership with Network Rail, will address the bridge's challenges and enhance the area around Clapham Junction station for local residents and businesses.

Improvement works underway

The work started on Monday 21 July 2025 with support from partners including Network Rail and Shopstop. It will take approximately five months to complete.

Works taking place

The works include:

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

Access during works

To safely carry out the works we have to install temporary traffic signals under the bridge to allow work to take place on one side at a time. One pedestrian footway will remain open throughout the works, with pedestrian crossings provided at either end.

Buses

Working closely with Transport for London, we have managed to minimise the impact on bus services during the works, however some services will be impacted at times. TfL will advertise all service information at the bus stops affected and details can be found on the TfL website.

Roadworks

To ensure better traffic flows through the area, Wandsworth Council and TfL will not permit any non-emergency roadworks on the diversion routes.

Check all roadworks in Wandsworth.

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.