The Concert Hall Approach, the road behind the Royal Festival Hall leading through the railway underpass to Waterloo station, has been largely transformed into a pedestrianised, newly paved space. Buses were diverted following an agreement in 2024, allowing removal of old paving and replacement work that began about a year ago. Hoardings are coming down and much of the area is opening to pedestrians, with a wide pedestrian crossing added on Belvedere Road beside the Queen Elizabeth Centre. The route remains accessible for emergency vehicles and servicing. The improvements form part of the council's South Bank Spine Route project. Gates at Whitehouse Garden remain locked, limiting full public use.
Work to pedestrianise the busy road at the back of the Southbank Centre is nearly completed, and parts are starting to be opened to the public. The Concert Hall Approach is the road from the back of the Royal Festival Hall and leads via the railway underpass to Waterloo station. Until the latest work started, it had the air of a rather shabby pavement, in part because it was still a live road used by buses turning up to the Waterloo roundabout,
A prior agreement to divert buses was secured in 2024, and work on removing the old pavement and replacing it began about a year ago. It was due to be finished earlier this year, but at last the hoardings are being pulled down and opening up the newly paved space for pedestrians. In addition, a wide pedestrian crossing has been added to Belvedere Road next to the Queen Elizabeth Centre.
There's still some hoardings to come down, but most of the work now looks largely complete. Although pedestrianised, the road will still be open for emergency vehicles and servicing, as is pretty routine with road closures of this sort. The area is being improved as part of the council's South Bank Spine Route project. All the council needs to do now is persuade the Whitehouse Garden owners to unlock the gates next to the road as they are supposed to
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