Central London Network Rail site could become new cinema and music venue
Southwark Council look set to approve a development at a site used by Network Rail during Thameslink construction works.
It’s been in railway usage for over a century before with the site formerly being both a goods depot, parcel yard then used for stabling stock before closure.
The above image was taken recently from a Thameslink train between Blackfriars and London Bridge on the way to Abbey Wood.
The development – named Timber Square – is located at Ewer Street and sits beside tracks between Blackfriars, Waterloo East and London Bridge with submitted plans set to see:
- A change of use of existing arches within the viaduct structure to flexible office, retail, gymnasium and restaurant uses
- Flexible cultural, drinking establishment, live music venue, nightclub, cinema, and theatre uses
- Construction of two buildings (ground plus-12 storey plus plant and ground plus 15-storey plus plant) for flexible office and indoor sport and recreation facilities
- Associated landscaping, new public realm, creation of new entrances and frontages, cycle parking, highways works, plant and equipment and all other associated works
The former depot’s base structure – or at least parts – will remain as part of the proposal. Arches below tracks will see “remodelling, refurbishment and change of use of existing arches to provide flexible uses”.
Open space will be located between two new office blocks featuring balconies and terraces.
Site history
The site has been in use by the railways since 1901 when Ewer Street Goods Depot was built to serve the South Eastern and Chatham Railway.
It then became the Grande Vitesse Goods Depot until October 1960 and used as a parcel depot until 1969. Between 1969 and 1983 the depot was used as sidings.
In the new millennium temporary planning permission was granted in 2002 to provide purpose-built office space for Network Rail’s Thameslink programme. With that project being continually delayed by government, the time limit for this use was extended several times until it ceased operation in 2024.
To the east is a 3-storey modular building and car park built in 2011. This building is to be removed by Network Rail.
Income for improvements
If approved at the meeting next week this development would bring Southwark Council and the Mayor £15,145,378 from the Community Infrastructure Levy (£10.2 million Mayoral CIL and £4.9 million Borough CIL)
Section 106 revenue to Southwark would total £3,106,473.00 with more to be confirmed. That includes £500,000 for “sustainable transport interventions and improvements”.
Plans were submitted back in February and visible here. This is phase two of Timber Square with phase one expected to complete in Q4 2025.
Just to add, despite a cinema and music venue being potential doesn’t mean that usage will definitely go ahead, but this site does seem a great location for one or the other – or even both.
Southwark councillors are set to make a decision next week.
