Transforming Hercules Road

As part of Cross River Partnership’s Healthy Streets Everyday II programme, WeAreWaterloo has been working with London Borough of Lambeth and the South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours Forum (SoWN) to transform Hercules Road. 

In place of car parking, Hercules Road now sees lush green spaces along with new seating and cycle parking, creating a vibrant public space for residents, visitors and workers alike. 

The newly introduced greenery plays a crucial role in improving the area’s climate resilience. Planted areas will help absorb rainwater, reducing the risk of surface flooding while also improving biodiversity. During the summer months, the added tree cover will provide shade and help counteract increasingly warm temperatures. 

The shift away from car-centric street design and the introduction of more green infrastructure contribute to improved air quality. Trees and plants naturally filter pollutants from the air, while promoting walking and cycling helps reduce traffic emissions. 

This transformation is a milestone within the broader South Bank and Waterloo Net Zero 2030 Strategy - a collaborative effort by the South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us partnership to improve local air quality and environmental sustainability. 

Hercules Road was partially funded through CRP’s Healthy Streets Everyday II, a Mayor of London Air Quality Funded 3-year programme that will address the issue of over-dependence on private vehicles, and the associated issues of poor Air Quality, Environment, Safety, Health, and Wellbeing.     

For more information on the HSE II programme, please contact CRP Project Lead, Ross Phillips.