Lights, artwork, music! Colourful launch for Falcon Road rail bridge transformation

Over the past six months the council, in partnership with Network Rail, has been working hard to transform the 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’ve been busy cleaning 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 of Falcon Road bridge in Clapham Junction has been paid for with funding the council collects and controls from property developers, at no cost to local taxpayers.

Transformed: Falcon Road bridge before improvement works

Simon Hogg, Leader of Wandsworth Council said: “It’s been fantastic to see this transformation of Falcon Road bridge take shape and become a bright and colourful place that people can be proud of. This is a whole-neighbourhood project, thanks to the local community who put time and effort into helping develop the artwork, residents and businesses who have been so supportive during the works, and local partners Network Rail.

“Changes like this really do make a difference to our neighbourhoods and help our town centres grow, so we’ll continue to invest the funding we collect from property developers into making real improvements for communities across the borough.”

Christopher Mansfield, Senior Asset Engineer at Network Rail said: “Network Rail is incredibly proud to be part of this fantastic project. We’ve worked hand-in-hand with Wandsworth Borough Council, community partners and local residents because we know how important this space is to the people who use it every single day. Rail infrastructure isn’t just about tracks and trains - it sits at the heart of neighbourhoods like this one, forming a vital artery that connects lives and livelihoods.

“This underpass has been transformed into a space that is brighter, safer and far more welcoming, and that change has only been possible through true collaboration. Local creativity, local pride and a shared ambition have come together to deliver something the whole community can enjoy. It’s been a joy to work alongside everyone involved, and we’re delighted to have helped create something of real, lasting value for Wandsworth.”

The works have included:

• 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.

Putting the town centre on the map

Kemi Akinola, Deputy Leader said: “I am so excited that we’ve achieved such a complete transformation of this unwelcoming space and really put the town centre on the map during Wandsworth’s year as London Borough of Culture. This legacy is testament to all the creativity and enthusiasm of our community and partners which makes it such a special place.”

Together with London Festival of Architecture (LFA), the council ran an architectural design competition in 2024 to find the winning design team who would work closely with the local community and create the bridge redesign. During the LFA’s process, over 1,000 public responses were sent in ahead of a final judging panel decision on the best design team who could deliver the project successfully.

The design, called Beyond the Bridge, has been shaped through extensive community engagement, survey responses, walking tours, creative workshops, and a community design review panel.

Rosa Regina, Director at London Festival of Architecture, said: “This project has exemplified the collaborative nature of LFA, from the inspiring design team at GPAD and POoR Collective, to the local communities whose input shaped the final design, and the Wandsworth Council teams who made it happen in record time.

“Building on the London Borough of Culture legacy, Falcon Road Bridge is transforming the area and creating a lasting, tangible impact where it is most needed in people’s day-to-day lives, showing what’s possible when commissioning processes value collaboration, support emerging practices, and value the process as much as the final outcome.” 

The new architectural lighting under and around the bridge was switched on for the first time after a countdown with local children and marching bands from Falconbrook School, World Heart Beat and street performers brought live music and entertainment through the underpass.

'More welcoming gateway'

Alice Cutter, Senior Architect at GPAD said: “At GPAD, we’re proud to have led the Beyond the Bridge team in reimagining Falcon Road Bridge as a safer, brighter and more welcoming gateway for Wandsworth. Guided by the stories and input of local residents, the design transforms a long-neglected underpass into a vibrant community landmark that celebrates Wandsworth’s identity. This project shows the power of collaborative, community-led design, and we’re excited to have delivered a meaningful new space for London’s Borough of Culture 2025.”

The collaborative design team of GPAD architects, 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.

About the Falcon Road underpass

The underpass is just over 100 metres long, and before the project it appeared to be in a poor condition with walls that were dirty, damp and stained. Various previous lighting improvements had not succeeded in changing users' perceptions of the underpass. 

It is identified in the Wandsworth Local Plan 2023-2038 as a location in need of improvement as part of a wider regeneration of Clapham Junction. It was also highlighted in both the Clapham Junction Area Strategy and in the brief for the Masterplan, for the long-term redevelopment of Clapham Junction Station, as a location that needs to be addressed to achieve the placemaking aspirations for the area. It has long been identified by local people as the part of Clapham Junction that needs most improvement.

During the council's Night Time Strategy research many respondents spoke in a negative way about the underpass, with women in particular saying how they felt unsafe using the route and many women expressing their reluctance to walk through the underpass alone. Generally, all the respondents that mentioned the underpass said they wanted it improved because it felt neglected, dirty and unsafe, and suggested the use of colour, lighting and projection could be used to create an exciting gateway to the area.

What happens next

The council is now planning further improvements in 2026 along the Falcon Road corridor between Lavender Hill and Battersea Park Road, improving the road surface and pavements and creating a better pedestrian route with new zebra crossings and landscaping.

Find out about the council's wider bridge improvements programme.