Vauxhall Cross: developer proposes SW8 to SE1 high-level walkway

CLS, which is based in Bondway and owns a lot of property locally, wants to build a series of high-rise buildings at the corner of Bondway and Parry Street.

The Vauxhall Square development would include homes, offices, a hotel, cinema and student accommodation.

The developer is holding a competition to find an architect to design a 'Linear Walk' which would stretch from Nine Elms Lane and Wandsworth Road in SW8 to the southern end of Albert Embankment in SE1, outside the MI6 headquarters.

The elevated walkway, which would replace the distinctive 'ski jump' bus station which opened just six years ago, has been compared to schemes such as the High Line in New York.

CLS claims that a solution to the conflict between motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists at Vauxhall Cross is a prerequisite for the regeneration of the area.

The firm says that between 2005 and 2009 one pedestrian was killed, nine pedestrians were injured and 21 cyclists were injured at Vauxhall Cross.

Five architectural practices have been shortlisted in the competition to find a designer for the Vauxhall Linear Walk, including London Eye creators Marks Barfield. Initial designs will be published next month.

CLS says that it hopes to deliver the Vauxhall Linear Walk at no cost to the public, though it will almost certainly argue that such an audacious proposal to change the public realm should lead to a lower requirement for affordable housing than would otherwise be expected.

The proposal comes at a time when high-level walkways and underpasses have fallen out of favour. Pedestrians and motor vehicles are increasing expected to coexist at the same level, such as at Elephant & Castle where subways have been replaced with surface-level crossings. The network of high-level walkways at the South Bank is also less extensive than it once was.

Last October the Mayor of London told London Assembly member Val Shawcross that Transport for London is considering future options for the Vauxhall Cross gyratory.

"Options for improving the pedestrian crossing and environment included junction simplification, provision of new crossings and an option for gyratory removal," said Boris Johnson.

• Find out more about the Vauxhall Linear Walk at www.vauxhallsquare.co.uk