Organisation
WeAreWaterloo and SBW Sustains Us
Theme
Adaptation
Start Date
Sept 2021
Goals
Resilient communities, Equality, Climate-friendly streets, Shift modes, Nature, Green infrastructure, Biodiversity, Air quality
Lambeth Council, together with WeAreWaterloo BID and the South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours Forum, is regenerating Hercules Road, Waterloo, to create up to 300m2 of new green space, trees, cycle parking facilities and seating for the community.
The Challenge
In 2019, Hercules Road, Waterloo, received a traffic filter as part of Cycleway 5. This made part of the road only usable by cyclists, creating opportunities to reallocate road space to other purposes.
Feasibility studies found that Hercules Road had NO2 levels 50% higher and PM2.5 levels 13% higher than the London average. The redundant tarmac also retained unnecessary heat with Hercules Road's average temperature being 1.85℃ higher than the rural average and 0.6℃ higher than the London average.
This presented an opportunity to repurpose up to 300 m2 of space via depaving and planting, to improve air quality through plant filtration, and to reduce the urban heat island effect by turning grey to green.
In 2021, WeAreWaterloo were granted GLA’s Grow Back Greener funding to design the project in collaboration with local businesses, residents, groups, and key stakeholders. This was done in close cooperation with Lambeth Council, and resulted in a design prioritising the neighbourhood's needs, with over 80% of those surveyed supporting the project.
Action Taken
The project has now secured funding through Lambeth Council, South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours and the WeAreWarerloo BID from the Mayor of London’s Air Quality Fund and Cross River Partnership’s Healthy Streets Everyday II (HSE II) programme.
The Healthy Streets Everyday II initiative is a three-year programme that addresses overdependence on private vehicles. It aims to enhance air quality, safety, and overall well-being across six London boroughs and six Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).
The transformation will create close to 300m2 of new green space, populated by a range of different trees and low-level planting. Three large green buildouts will be constructed on the eastern side of Hercules Road and two smaller buildouts on the western side. Several parking bays will be removed, but ample parking will still be available on Hercules Road and on surrounding roads.
The design includes around a dozen new trees, 15 cube-like seats and six additional cycle racks. It was refined through community engagement, which took place from September to October 2023 and revealed strong support from local respondents. 82% of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with the proposal. The works will be carried out over four weeks from 28 November to 20 December 2024.
These changes will improve the environment, promote sustainable transport, and enhance residents’ and visitors’ experience.
“We are delighted to transform Hercules Road into a greener place where residents love to live and visitors love to spend time.
We have already planted thousands of new trees across our borough over the last few years. We are on course to plant more this winter and over 5,000 new trees by 2026.
Having access to green space is vital for peoples’ wellbeing, as well as providing shade and all sorts of other benefits. I am excited to work with our partners and see Hercules Road transformed in the months ahead.”
Rezina Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport and Clean Air, Lambeth Council
“We’re thrilled to be taking a step forward in this significant project for Waterloo that will not only enhance climate resilience, but also create green and welcoming spaces for our residents, local workers and visitors.
The transformative scheme is a great example of collaboration between local stakeholders to drive improvements in our neighbourhood.”
WeAreWaterloo CEO Kate Poulter
“As Chair of the South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us Steering Group and South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours, I am proud to support the Hercules Road project.
The project will revitalise an underused part of Waterloo by creating new green space, seating, and cycle parking. It will improve the area and provide residents with more opportunities for rest and recreation.
The green infrastructure will also be crucial in absorbing rainfall and reducing surface water flooding. This project represents a big step forward for our shared vision for a fairer and greener South Bank and Waterloo.”
Giles Goddard, Vicar of St John’s Church Waterloo
Call to Action
The project aims to reduce the risk of flooding from intense rainfall, improve the aesthetics of the public highway while increasing biodiversity, and promote community cohesion through engagement activities.
This project will also promote equitable access to green space, where there was very little access before. There will be space for residents to grow their fruits, herbs, and vegetables, and monthly community workshops will be held for all local businesses and residents.
Read the community feedback and project proposals
Read more here (opens in a new window)