Long Live Southbank, commonly known as LLSB, is a non-profit organisation that successfully campaigned against the redevelopment of the Southbank Undercroft skateboarding spot at the Southbank Centre site in London, England. The organisation is now campaigning to safeguard the space and help the community continue to evolve creatively.
The movement was established in April 2013 in order to safeguard the historic site in British skateboarding following the publication of the Festival Wing plans by the Southbank Centre released on 6 March 2013. This proposed scheme included two new buildings above and alongside the Queen Elizabeth Hall to be funded to a significant degree by commercial restaurant and retail developments in the Undercroft space which would have been closed to its skateboarding and other current users. Although an alternative location for skateboarding and other activities was proposed by Southbank Centre, under Hungerford Bridge, this was considered by users of the Undercroft to be a quite different space and lack the unique character and heritage of the Undercroft. On 18 September 2014, Long Live Southbank signed a Section 106 agreement with the Southbank Centre guaranteeing the space's long-term future. and the Festival Wing proposals were withdrawn by Southbank Centre.
The area has been continually used by skateboarders, BMXers and other creative urban art forms since the early seventies and remains an important landmark for urban culture. The campaign seeks to protect a dynamic space that has been utilised for creativity and self-expression for decades, independently building a culture and community that continues to attract visitors from all over the world.
LLSB volunteer, Henry Edwards-Wood, says of the motivation for the campaign; "This space has empowered generations of physical, visual and collaborative expression and informed and directed the lives of people from all walks of life. This world famous landmark and cultural icon must be preserved for future generations to flourish."
History
The Undercroft skateboarding area was an unused space appropriated as a cultural and recreational facility within the South Bank complex that has been used consistently for over 40 years. Skateboarders initially appropriated the area but it soon became used by BMXers, inline skaters, graffiti artists and many other creatives including street dancers, musicians, videographers and more.
The space is unique as it grew organically into what is now widely recognised as the home of British skateboarding. As an import from California, skateboarding in Britain was difficult due to the weather. The Undercroft space provided the perfect environment for skating as it was covered from the rain, smooth, flat with unusual architectural features resembling the ramps Californians skated, but most importantly disused.
In London, the concrete banks below the Southbank Centre's Hayward Gallery proved ideal for early surf-related moves,
A large paved area sweeps into a three-sided bank and a seemingly endless stream of kids were hurtling up to the bank, riding it, and turning back down and away...others were riding along the top edge of the bank, crouched down holding on to their boards (‘carving’)."
In late 2003 the Southbank Centre reduced the skate area by two thirds without consulting any users of the undercroft space and destroyed the small banks and driveway ramp that was in that area, this area was then used as extra storage space.
In August 2004 Rich "Badger" Holland of Side Effects of Urethane designed and installed new pieces of street furniture into the Undercroft space This project was entitled 'Moving Units', later in 2006 more stone street furniture was provided as part of another project by the TSEOU entitled Units Moved. Finally, in 2010 a railing was placed around the site and this now serves as a vantage point for spectators.
Since April 2013 the LLSB campaign has been working to protect the legal status of the Undercroft. LLSB's application for the area to be awarded the status of an Asset of Community Value was granted in July 2013. An application, now withdrawn as part of the Section 106 agreement, has also been lodged for the area to be granted village green status under the Commons Act 2006 as an area of recognised community value that is regularly enjoyed by local residents. The Southbank Centre released a response to the decision to list the Undercroft as an 'Asset of Community Value' advising that they have no intention of selling the space and the outcome makes no difference to their intended development.