Long Live Southbank

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.[5] Skateboarders initially appropriated[6] the area but it soon became used by BMXers, inline skaters, graffiti artists[7][8] and many other creatives including street dancers, musicians,[9] 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’)."[10]

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[11] 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.[12] 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for the area to be awarded the status of an Asset of Community Value was granted in July 2013.[13] An application, now withdrawn as part of the Section 106 agreement, has also been lodged for the area to be granted village green status under the Commons Act 2006 as an area of recognised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.[14]

The campaign increased the awareness of the Southbank Centre’s Festival Wing redevelopment proposals and established a growing support base of those opposed.

Lambeth Council accepted LLSB's application for the Southbank Undercroft to be listed as an "Asset of Community Value" under the Localism Act 2011 on 12 July 2013.

In January 2014, the last of 33,000 planning permission objections (distinct from the 150,000 statements of support gathered by LLSB) were delivered to Lambeth Council. This included a formal objection written by Nick Hytner, the artistic director of the National Theatre, which was published on the Southbank Centre's planning application on Lambeth Council's website.[25] The Twentieth Century Society released information advising that they are no longer in support of the plans.[22] In September 2013 English Heritage issued a statement in support of Southbank Centre's plans.[16]

On 16 January 2014, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson came out in support of Long Live Southbank. This was highly significant as he had power of veto over any planning application in London. The Mayor said "The skate park is the epicentre of UK skateboarding and is part of the cultural fabric of London. This much-loved community space has been used by thousands of young people over the years. It attracts tourists from across the world and undoubtedly adds to the vibrancy of the area – it helps to make London the great city it is" [26] This forced the Southbank Centre to drop their planning application for a period of reconsideration.

After months of negotiations, the Southbank Centre and Long Live Southbank signed a binding deal with Lambeth Council to guarantee the long-term future of the skate spot on 18 September 2014. The joint press release said "Following talks that have taken place over the last three months, Long Live Southbank and Southbank Centre are delighted to have reached an agreement that secures the Queen Elizabeth Hall undercroft as the long-term home of British skateboarding and the other urban activities for which it is famous."[27]

Since the September 2014 agreement with the Southbank Centre, Long Live Southbank have remained a highly active organisation. They have worked with a wide variety of groups aiming to protect creative spaces and communities, both in the UK and abroad. Most significant is the assistance provided to the skateboarding communities of Norwich and Kettering in England, as well as the Friends of Stockwell campaign, who are aiming to safeguard Stockwell Skatepark, also in South London.

Long Live Southbank continue to be involved in resolving ongoing issues at the Undercroft, organizing maintenance, resolving disputes and taking part in talks and workshops to raise awareness about the importance of free creative spaces.

In June 2017 Southbank Centre and Long Live Southbank (LLSB) launched a £790,000 joint crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to restore the skate space.

The vibrant development will include new space for skateboarding, graffiti and other free creative pursuits. Also included is a new space for children and young people to engage in learning and creative activities, organised by Southbank Centre.

The development will extend the existing skate space, with improvements to lighting as well as a restoration of original 1960s banks and concrete paving. It will also create a new learning and education hub for children and young people, a go-to place for young people looking for opportunities in the arts and creative industries. This hub will host interactive new learning and participation events and programmes that will welcome hundreds of school-children and local people to creative projects every day.