Southbank Centre extension plans under review

Lambeth Council will assess Southbank Centre’s request for planning permission later than originally scheduled after the Centre asked for more time to review its proposed extension. Over recent months, concerns from skateboarders have grown as the undercroft below the centre, where Skaters have been  practising their sport for decades, would disappear under current plans. Nicholas Hytner, Director of the Centre’s neighbouring National Theatre has also lodged a complaint  with Lambeth Council over the plans, saying that the extension would have “a wedge like effect” on the South Bank. Centre staff will work with the local community to find out ways to balance everyone’s needs. A spokesman commented “The Festival Wing project  has huge potential to reach out and change the lives of thousands of local children and young people who currently have very few opportunities and to give new space to the widest range of community arts But we also want our skateboarders, street writers and BMXers to continue to think of this as their home.”