Wandsworth is expecting big changes in 2025, including the construction of more council homes, the first step in regenerating a popular town centre and the expansion of a new neighbourhood. Wandsworth Council has approved a variety of major planning applications this year, which are now set to be carried out.
Wandsworth is also the London Borough of Culture for 2025, which will see a variety of major events take place for everyone to enjoy. The council said it is gearing up for a ‘spectacular year’ as the borough is changing, with culture set to be at the heart of its approach to improving health, happiness and equality of opportunity for residents. We have listed below some of the major developments and events expected in Wandsworth in 2025.
London Borough of Culture 2025
Wandsworth Council will run a programme of free events as London Borough of Culture for 2025
(Image: Charlotte Lillywhite)
Wandsworth was chosen this year as the Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture for 2025. The council, local partners and community groups will be holding a programme of free events starting in April.
The council said every corner of the borough will ‘come alive in an explosion of creativity’. The plans include a mass dance event and choral spectacular.
Labour Council Leader Simon Hogg added: “Being London Borough of Culture is a huge opportunity for Wandsworth. By showing London what we offer we can grow our night-time economy, support local businesses and have a fun year at the same time. We are looking forward to working with our partners to stage a spectacular and memorable year.”
First step in Clapham Junction regeneration
A dark and unwelcoming underpass in Clapham Junction will get a colourful makeover in 2025 in a £4.5million scheme. The council has chosen the design for the transformation of the route underneath Falcon Road Bridge, which is set to improve the area around the station and become a new landmark in the town centre.
The winning team of GPAD, POoR Collective, MRG Studio, Sutton Vane Associates, Cundall, and MDA Consulting are tackling residents’ concerns over safety, lighting and noise reduction with the scheme. The design will now be developed further, with installation scheduled for completion by autumn 2025.
What the Falcon Road Bridge underpass, in Clapham Junction, is set to look like
(Image: Wandsworth Council)
The project is the first step in wider plans being drawn up for the regeneration of Clapham Junction. The London Plan 2021, from the Greater London Authority (GLA), indicates the area could accommodate 2,500 new homes and 2,500 extra jobs, on top of the capacity for growth in the Winstanley and York Road regeneration area.
The council is putting together a masterplan for Clapham Junction to translate these policies into development proposals. It is working with stakeholders, including the GLA, TfL, Network Rail and landowners, to meet emerging targets for the area and to improve the station.
New council homes across the borough
The council will continue to press ahead with its Homes for Wandsworth scheme in 2025, which it recently revealed is on track to deliver 1,000 new council homes in the borough by 2029. It has approved several planning applications this year to build more homes on council estates across Wandsworth to meet this target, including the Ashburton South Estate, Toland Square, Ackroydon Estate and The Alders Estate. There were 13,513 people on the council’s housing waiting list in March, including 3,215 homeless households.
Expansion of Tooting village
Work is set to begin on expanding a new ‘village’ in Tooting with 449 more homes, after the Greater London Authority (GLA) in October overruled the council’s decision to reject the plans. The new homes will be built at Springfield Village, in Tooting, in the final phase of the redevelopment of Springfield Hospital.
Another look at the development, which has now won planning permission
(Image: Barratt London/STEP/Farrells)
The scheme, from developers Barratt London and STEP, will see buildings on remaining plots of land on the southern part of the site demolished to bring the total number of homes to 1,288 – an increase on the 839 homes that are already being built. Out of the 449 new homes being added to the site, 220 will be affordable.
The scheme will complete Springfield Village, bringing with it an extra 2.7 acres of public space to Springfield Park. The development has two new mental health units at its heart, as it forms part of South West London St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust’s plans to revamp and build new mental health facilities in the area. The sale of remaining land on the site for the construction of the 449 extra homes will help the NHS to fund the £110million revamp of Tolworth Hospital, in Kingston.
Got a story? Email charlotte.lillywhite@reachplc.com
Don’t miss out on the biggest local stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more.