Waterloo is a major transport interchange, a world-class cultural quarter and a tourist destination, however poor overall planning and design over many decades has allowed the area to be developed without proper co-ordination. The Waterloo Opportunity Area Planning Framework will be the blueprint for sustainable regeneration in the area over the coming decades, bringing thousands of new homes and jobs and placing a clear emphasis on the importance of outstanding design.
 
The area covered by the Framework includes Waterloo station and the South Bank from St Thomas's Hospital to Gabriel's Wharf.  
 
Proposals include:
 
* Reworking the IMAX roundabout and creating an attractive new city square where local people and visitors will want to gather.
*Encouraging the development of new world-class buildings around and above the station, harnessing the area’s potential to provide thousands of new homes and jobs.
*Improving the layout of Waterloo as a major transport interchange, working with Network Rail to improve the accessibility and capacity of the station and redefining it as a new centre for the area.

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said:
 
‘Waterloo welcomes millions of people to London every year.  It is also the gateway to the South Bank, one of the world’s leading cultural centres, which has recently been subject to a multi-million pound makeover to ensure it retains its unique status as one of London’s most popular attractions.  It is vital that we improve the attractiveness of the station and its surroundings, making the most of the whole neighbourhood and stitching all of its individual parts together.”

Robin Gisby, director of Operations & Customer Services for Network Rail added:
“Network Rail welcomes the publication of the Waterloo Opportunity Area Planning Framework. Its vision and objectives for Waterloo are closely connected with our strategy for Waterloo Station and its immediate surrounding area. Network Rail will shortly be commissioning consultants to further develop options for the Station - this can now take place in the context of the adopted framework. Network Rail looks forward to continued joint working with stakeholders as plans move forward.”