Long Live Southbank, Community preservation organization in Southbank, England.
Long Live Southbank is a community organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the Undercroft, a covered space beneath Queen Elizabeth Hall along the River Thames. The group carries out restoration projects, organizes community events, and works with local authorities to maintain public access to the space.
The organization was founded in 2013 to counter development plans that threatened to replace the Undercroft with commercial establishments at the Southbank Centre. Through successful advocacy, the group secured legal protection for the space and established its status as an important community asset.
The Undercroft has been a gathering place for skateboarders, artists, and performers since the 1970s, who continue to shape it through daily use. The community has turned this space into an important social hub where different creative scenes interact.
The Undercroft is accessible most days and located beneath Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank. It is worth checking ahead to see if community events or restoration work are taking place, as these can affect access and experience.
The group raised over 790,000 pounds for renovation work and secured legal status as an Asset of Community Value. This financial and legal protection became a rare example of citizens successfully resisting commercial displacement of a public space.
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