Vauxhall Missing Link: An urban design framework reconnecting Vauxhall’s heritage, community, and riverside

The Vauxhall Missing Link project is a visionary urban design framework aimed at strengthening connections between the Vauxhall/Nine Elms/Battersea (VNEB) regeneration site and the South Bank. It sets out a comprehensive public realm strategy integrating urban design and landscape proposals to bring visual coherence, delight, sustainability, and green infrastructure to an area with a rich but under-appreciated history. Inspired by Vauxhall’s vibrant past, including the famous Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, the framework introduces the ‘Promenade of Curiosities’ - a route designed to invite discovery and interaction, both day and night. This promenade references historical figures like Tradescant, a local collector whose cabinet of curiosities inspired a series of permanent and temporary installations that connect visitors to Vauxhall’s unique heritage. While deeply rooted in history, the framework’s proposals are thoroughly contemporary, embedding themselves in the local character and supporting social cohesion. The project was secured through an international public realm design competition and is presented as a flexible toolkit of projects for phased implementation by multiple agencies over time.

Sustainability lies at the heart of the Vauxhall Missing Link framework, addressed holistically by combining environmental, social, and economic benefits. Urban greening, sustainable drainage systems, and biodiversity enhancement form integral parts of the design, creating green buffers that separate pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles while mitigating urban heat and flooding risks. Tree planting references species historically collected by Tradescant, fostering community engagement with local heritage and climate resilience. Playful, pollarded trees act as wayfinding elements, echoing historic landscape features while guiding visitors through the area. The scheme prioritizes cyclists and pedestrians, particularly along Vauxhall Walk, a key route connecting transport hubs to emerging cultural quarters. A core ambition is to reconnect Vauxhall with the Thames, transforming Albert Embankment into a greener, more accessible, and humane public space with improved river access and shore activations for recreation and habitat engagement. The framework’s phased approach allows for early prototype projects such as rain gardens and living walls to demonstrate benefits and build momentum for larger-scale interventions, providing a clear design guide for developers and agencies shaping Vauxhall’s public realm.