News
Railway arches to be transformed in London Borough of Southwark
28 May 2024
Santosh Patel
Strategic Account Director
We are proud to announce work has commenced on America Street, Southwark, that will transform four unused railway arches into spaces for restaurants, cafés, bars, and other leisure businesses to thrive.
Offering our multi-disciplinary services, we’ll be collaborating with The Arch Company and Stephen George + Partners (SGP) on the regeneration project to create a contemporary space and a vibrant destination within the neighbourhood.
The arches, located under a 19th century railway viaduct in a prime London location between Southwark Bridge Road and Great Guildford Street, will now undergo extensive renovation and revitalisation works. This will include the re-lining of all arch spaces, new insulated floor slabs suitable for restaurant use, and glazed front infills.
In restoring these arches, a key priority has been to meet relevant energy efficiency standards, with all four arches intended to achieve an EPC ‘B’ rating.
“This unique project will transform America Street's historic railway arches into a vibrant cultural hub. By converting these once disused spaces into bustling restaurants, cafés, and bars, we are not just revitalising the arches but fostering a community and destination that supports local business and community.
— Strategic Account Director, Santosh Patel, at Pick Everard
“Our teams have worked closely with the client and architectural team on investigation works of the existing site, to allow efficient structural and drainage solutions to be designed. Our building services team has also coordinated with local electricity network providers to construct a new substation, delivering sufficient power to the new development, and have designed the necessary ventilation, power and lighting solutions for the new arch fitouts. We eagerly look forward to seeing the completion of this transformative project."
SGP Principal Architectural Technologist, Josh White, comments:
“The ultimate aim is for the street to be pedestrianised and so our design incorporates active frontages to increase the connection with the street. We have large glazed frontages along America Street and to firmly anchor the scheme within the local milieu and further enhance the streetscape, bifold doors can open up onto the street, while a space to the front of two of the units can be adapted for outside seating and planting to create an appealing aesthetic to the Low Line.”
Craig McWilliam, Chief Executive at The Arch Company, said:
“We’re investing £2.5m into these spaces to provide much-needed additional commercial space suitable for leisure use. Repurposing these arches is part of our ongoing programme to create fit-for-purpose spaces in which businesses can thrive. “