Bright future for historic London Bridge arch as restoration and refurbishment works complete

Stephen George + Partners (SGP) is delighted to announce that work has completed on the refurbishment of an historically significant railway arch on Crucifix Lane, in the Borough of Southwark, London. Sited amongst key landmarks such as The Shard, London Bridge, City Hall and Tower Bridge, SGP has been working with The Arch Company and the Railway Heritage Trust to restore the Grade II Listed arch frontages, while simultaneously providing a new, contemporary space for food and drink or other leisure businesses to thrive.

Built between 1864 and 1866 and designed by prominent Victorian architect Charles Henry Driver, the arch forms part of the final bay of the viaduct supporting the elevated London Bridge railway track. The viaduct is deemed to be an example of more decorative railway architectural design, its frontages incorporating polychromatic brickwork and elaborate stone carvings. In more recent times, the arch housed part of the famous Jacks nightclub, which featured in music videos and hosted the Chemical Brothers’ first ever gig in the capital back in 1994. The club closed in 2015 when the area was closed off to facilitate the London Bridge Station expansion and the arches have remained dormant until now, thanks to investment from The Arch Company.

SGP Studio Director Alan Soper said: “The architecturally distinct arches at this section of Crucifix Lane have played a significant part in the commerce and culture of the city since Victorian times. We are delighted to be working with The Arch Company to bring these particular arches back to life so that they can once again take their place in the commercial activity of this vibrant part of the capital and, through sympathetic restoration, ensure a long-term future for this important piece of railway heritage.”

Tom Coleman, Head of Development at The Arch Company, said: “When we took over the portfolio in 2019, we sought to invest in bringing 1,000 spaces just like this arch into use, as part of our £200m plan Project 1000. As a restoration project, Crucifix Lane is a particularly exciting as it is such a striking space, set in an excellent location.  We look forward to welcoming a new business into the local area.”

As design architect and multidisciplinary consultant lead for the scheme, SGP has drawn on both its technical expertise and strong track record working with historic buildings to create contemporary space, while also respecting the industrial heritage of the arches. Liaising closely with planning and conservation officers, as well as specialist contractors, brickwork to the front elevation that had deteriorated through years of environmental exposure has been repaired, cleaned up and repointed, while the original window openings of the Grade II Listed arch have been carefully recreated to match the originals. Although roller shutters are required on the arch openings for security reasons, the design takes recognition of the arch’s Listed status by detailing the frontage infills and structural support to incorporate the new shutters internally.

Inside, the arches have undergone extensive renovation and revitalisation works including the re-lining of all arch spaces and new insulated floor slabs suitable for F&B use. During excavation, buried buttress structures and inverted arches were discovered, devised by the original Victorian engineers to support the walls and distribute the load from the tracks above. Working in partnership with multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard, SGP’s design sought to incorporate these historic structures, requiring clever alterations to the concrete slab and drainage system.

As SGP’s Alan Soper explains: “By any standards, arches are not a ‘normal’ building type and each can differ considerably. They require a blend of survey, procedural, planning and design work, as well as technical proficiency, to refurbish them to modern occupancy standards. The discovery of these historic features also highlights the complexity of working with historic buildings and the need for careful coordination with structural engineers.”

Santosh Patel, Operations Director at Pick Everard, said: “Despite the challenges of a confined, busy location, we worked to minimise disruption and ensure a smooth delivery. Our teams delivered efficient structural and drainage solutions, coordinated with utility providers, and designed ventilation, power and lighting for the new spaces within the archways.

“It’s been a real pleasure to be involved in another project with The Arch Company and collaborate with SGP. This project, rich in history, has restored the Grade II listed facades, and by repurposing spaces for restaurants, cafes and bars, will create a vibrant community destination that supports local businesses.”

The project on Crucifix Lane forms part of Project 1000, The Arch Company’s £200m plan to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030. It is one of several projects on which SGP is working with The Arch Company, with a number now on site or completed. Elsewhere in London, work has already been completed on the redevelopment of six vacant railway arches on Witan Street into high-specification commercial premises for light industrial use; while on America Street in Southwark, work has completed on the transformation of four dilapidated railway arches into spaces for restaurants, cafés, bars and other leisure businesses.