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NEWS
Competition seeks architects to design a High Line for London
POSTED 17 Dec 2015 . BY Kim Megson
The proposed public realm would occupy a 1km stretch of a line once used to transport coal between two train stations in Peckham, south-east London Credit: Peckham Coal Line
Another day, another plan for an elevated public park inspired by New York’s High Line.

Following in the footsteps of Singapore, Seoul and Sydney, a community group in London has now completed a design brief for an elevated green space following one of the city’s disused railway lines.

Named the Peckham Coal Line, the proposed public realm would occupy a 900m (1km) stretch of a line once used to transport coal between two train stations in Peckham, south-east London. The planned park consists of green-lined pedestrian and cycle routes running through Victorian brick viaducts before dropping down to a little-used nature reserve.

The Friends of the Peckham Coal Line (FPCL) are behind the plans, which are being developed in consultation with Southwark Council, The Greater London Authority and Network Rail – which owns most of the land and railway.

In a statement issued on their website, FPCL said: “The Coal Line would allow us to discover local history in the atmospheric shadow of grand old Victorian arches and factories with park views towards the city skyscrapers and beyond helping contextualise Peckham geographically and historically.

“This will transform Peckham. It will turn disused space into a source of civic pride that brings benefits to health, culture and business and celebrates Peckham’s industrial past.”

The group has successfully crowdfunded £70,000 (US$104,000, €96,200) to create a design and feasibility brief for the project. This is being made available to architects, engineers and landscape designers, who have been invited to team up and submit their technical vision for the Peckham Coal Line via an open tender.

All entrants must have experience working with railway infrastructure, solving technically difficult engineering situations and creating designs relating to public realm within both new and existing structures.

The deadline for submissions is 29 January 2016.

FPCL hopes the Peckham Coal Line can be integrated into the ongoing £15m (US$22.3m, €20.6m) regeneration of Peckham Rye station, which is committed to improving access to the station, creating more leisure facilities and increasing the public realm in the surrounding area.

Since fully opening in 2014, New York’s High Line – built on an elevated section of a disused railway in Manhattan – has been a huge success, attracting millions of visitors every year.

The project – designed by landscape firm James Corner Field Operations, architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Dutch designer Piet Oudolf – was itself inspired by the Promenade Plantée in Paris, which opened in 1993.

International architecture firm Arup recently published a report declaring city planners around the world must do more to create green urban environments that promote the health and wellbeing.

The report called for unused transport links, bridges and obsolete infrastructure to be transformed into natural habitats for wildlife and spaces for human enjoyment.
The planned park consists of green-lined pedestrian and cycle routes running through Victorian brick viaducts before dropping down to a little-used nature reserve Credit: Peckham Coal Line
PROJECT PROFILE:

The Goods Line
The first phase of Sydney’s new linear park, inspired by New York’s High Line, has opened to the public for the first time.


RELATED STORIES
  Nikken Sekkei to masterplan Singapore's High Line-inspired rail corridor


A design team led by Nikken Sekkei have won an international competition to develop a 24km (15m) of railway track stretching the length of Singapore.
  First phase of Sydney's Goods Line opens to the public


The first phase of Sydney’s new linear park, inspired by New York’s High Line, has opened to the public for the first time.
  Five teams shortlisted for Singapore's Rail Corridor redevelopment


Following the phenomenal success of New York’s High Line – a disused railway transformed into a public greenway – architects across the world have been keen to get their hands on similar projects, with cities and countries keen to capitalise on the unused space. The Singaporean government is the latest to get involved, shortlisting five architects to develop a feasible plan for 24km (15m) of track spanning the length of Singapore from north to south.
  Bjarke Ingels, Renzo Piano and other top architects take part in Lego art project at New York’s High Line


New York has seen ten ambitious new buildings from a range of top architecture firms spring up at the same time – with the public given free reign to add to, amend or otherwise improve on them.
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Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of Wellness 2026 research report.
Protests continue in Albania against US$1.6 billion luxury resort backed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump
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News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
Competition seeks architects to design a High Line for London
POSTED 17 Dec 2015 . BY Kim Megson
The proposed public realm would occupy a 1km stretch of a line once used to transport coal between two train stations in Peckham, south-east London Credit: Peckham Coal Line
Another day, another plan for an elevated public park inspired by New York’s High Line.

Following in the footsteps of Singapore, Seoul and Sydney, a community group in London has now completed a design brief for an elevated green space following one of the city’s disused railway lines.

Named the Peckham Coal Line, the proposed public realm would occupy a 900m (1km) stretch of a line once used to transport coal between two train stations in Peckham, south-east London. The planned park consists of green-lined pedestrian and cycle routes running through Victorian brick viaducts before dropping down to a little-used nature reserve.

The Friends of the Peckham Coal Line (FPCL) are behind the plans, which are being developed in consultation with Southwark Council, The Greater London Authority and Network Rail – which owns most of the land and railway.

In a statement issued on their website, FPCL said: “The Coal Line would allow us to discover local history in the atmospheric shadow of grand old Victorian arches and factories with park views towards the city skyscrapers and beyond helping contextualise Peckham geographically and historically.

“This will transform Peckham. It will turn disused space into a source of civic pride that brings benefits to health, culture and business and celebrates Peckham’s industrial past.”

The group has successfully crowdfunded £70,000 (US$104,000, €96,200) to create a design and feasibility brief for the project. This is being made available to architects, engineers and landscape designers, who have been invited to team up and submit their technical vision for the Peckham Coal Line via an open tender.

All entrants must have experience working with railway infrastructure, solving technically difficult engineering situations and creating designs relating to public realm within both new and existing structures.

The deadline for submissions is 29 January 2016.

FPCL hopes the Peckham Coal Line can be integrated into the ongoing £15m (US$22.3m, €20.6m) regeneration of Peckham Rye station, which is committed to improving access to the station, creating more leisure facilities and increasing the public realm in the surrounding area.

Since fully opening in 2014, New York’s High Line – built on an elevated section of a disused railway in Manhattan – has been a huge success, attracting millions of visitors every year.

The project – designed by landscape firm James Corner Field Operations, architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Dutch designer Piet Oudolf – was itself inspired by the Promenade Plantée in Paris, which opened in 1993.

International architecture firm Arup recently published a report declaring city planners around the world must do more to create green urban environments that promote the health and wellbeing.

The report called for unused transport links, bridges and obsolete infrastructure to be transformed into natural habitats for wildlife and spaces for human enjoyment.
The planned park consists of green-lined pedestrian and cycle routes running through Victorian brick viaducts before dropping down to a little-used nature reserve Credit: Peckham Coal Line
RELATED STORIES
Nikken Sekkei to masterplan Singapore's High Line-inspired rail corridor


A design team led by Nikken Sekkei have won an international competition to develop a 24km (15m) of railway track stretching the length of Singapore.
First phase of Sydney's Goods Line opens to the public


The first phase of Sydney’s new linear park, inspired by New York’s High Line, has opened to the public for the first time.
Five teams shortlisted for Singapore's Rail Corridor redevelopment


Following the phenomenal success of New York’s High Line – a disused railway transformed into a public greenway – architects across the world have been keen to get their hands on similar projects, with cities and countries keen to capitalise on the unused space. The Singaporean government is the latest to get involved, shortlisting five architects to develop a feasible plan for 24km (15m) of track spanning the length of Singapore from north to south.
Bjarke Ingels, Renzo Piano and other top architects take part in Lego art project at New York’s High Line


New York has seen ten ambitious new buildings from a range of top architecture firms spring up at the same time – with the public given free reign to add to, amend or otherwise improve on them.
MORE NEWS
The Good Spa Guide sets up event for modified Good Spa Guide Awards
The UK spa review and discovery platform for consumers, the Good Spa Guide, has announced it will host the Good Spa Guide Awards 2026 during an event on 16 November at Sopwell House Hotel in St Albans, UK.
McKinsey: 84 per cent of consumers say wellness is a top priority
Eighty-four per cent of consumers now say wellness is a top priority in their lives, with this percentage increasing year on year, according to a preview presentation of McKinsey’s Future of Wellness 2026 research report.
Protests continue in Albania against US$1.6 billion luxury resort backed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump
Mass protests have been taking place since Monday 1 June in Albania over the development of a luxury resort by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Barons Eden rebrands to Hiddenwell ahead of spa hotel portfolio expansion
Barons Eden, the UK parent company that operates luxury destination properties in England, has rebranded to become Hiddenwell.
Belgin Aksoy marks 15 years of Global Wellness Day
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FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Why future-ready in-house laundry is the new luxury spa essential
In today’s premium spa environment, every detail shapes the guest experience – right down to the softness of towels and the freshness of linens. [more...]

Glow beyond protection: meet Comfort Zone Hydramemory Hybrid Glow SPF 30
Sun protection is no longer just about shielding the skin – it's about enhancing it. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Elemental Herbology

Founded in 2008 by a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Elemental Herbology is a spa, retail [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

21-23 Jun 2026

Spa Life International (UK)

Midlands (Venue TBA), Liphook, United Kingdom
22-22 Jun 2026

World Bathing Day

Worldwide,
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
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