Borough, Bankside and Bermondsey

Marlborough Sports Garden

We're working with Bankside Open Spaces Trust to develop fantastic new sports facilities in the heart of Bankside. The Marlborough playground site is situated on Union Street and is a large concrete area that has long been used by local schools for lunchtime and after school play. The site is a protected open space in the Southwark Plan, and the council and partners have recognised the potential to improve the quality of the open space by installing new high quality sports facilities together with greenery and landscaping.

The project is being delivered organically over time as funding becomes available. Various options for the space are tested in consultation with a steering group that comprises local residents, businesses and schools.

The first phase of the project saw the creation of the successful Pop Up Olympics event in 2012 with a beach volleyball court, all weather football pitch, boxing ring, table tennis tables, and a running track installed in the space. Ten thousand young people used the space throughout the summer and gave valuable feedback on the final design for the project. The first phase was part built as a gift by the developers of the Shard of Glass, and part funded using section 106 funding from nearby developments.

The second phase is taking place in December 2013, with the installation of sports fencing to the boundary walls, new mains water and electricity supplies and floodlighting to the football pitch.

A third phase is currently been planned, which will include the creation of a new boundary along Union Street, a basketball court, running track and pop up events space. We're currently fundraising for this phase, so contact us if you'd like to support the project.

We're grateful to so many partners who are working together to make the project happen.

Pop up event opportunities

Union Street has developed a successful reputation as a place for pop up activities, with numerous events over the last 5 years at the Marlborough playground, Flat Iron Square and 100-142 Union Street.

Events have included the Jellyfish Theatre, Union Press, Urban Orchard, Grow Up Box and The Lake. To continue this success, the steering group proposes to introduce a permanent space for pop-up events at The Marlborough Sports Garden. If you're interested in organising a temporary event, contact us.

Get involved

We're always keen to hear from supporters of the project. If you'd like to get involved in the future design and construction of new sports facilities and the garden at The Marlborough, contact us.

Dan Taylor
Principal project officer
020 7525 5450

Page last updated: 01 August 2024