London Unveils High Line-Inspired Linear Park for Southbank’s New Nine Elms Development

Developer <strong><a href="http://www.ballymoregroup.com" target="_blank">Ballymore Group</a></strong> and landscape architect <strong><a href="http://www.camlins.com" target="_blank">Camlins</a></strong> recently unveiled plans for central London's new Linear Park. Inspired by the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/tag/high-line/">New York High-Line</a>, the park is envisioned as a critical connector and people-magnet for the new <strong><a href="http://www.embassygardens.com" target="_blank">Embassy Gardens</a></strong> housing development by the Ballymore Group. The kilometer-long green space is located at the center of this new development, which is a part of the larger Nine Elms development headed by the Ballymore Group and masterplanned by London architect <a href="http://www.terryfarrell.co.uk/">Sir Terry Farrell</a>.

The Linear Park will wind through the Embassy Gardens housing development from Vauxhall to the Battersea Power Station.

Residents will be able to open their doors right onto <strong><a href="http://inhabitat.com/underground-mushroom-tunnel-wins-londons-high-line-inspired-green-design-competition/" target="_blank">the meandering park</a></strong>, which Director of Camlins Huw Morgan calls, “a new London green: a fusion of enclosed garden squares, open green commons and majestic tree-lined streets.”

There will be common areas of the park designed to attract visitors and build a sense of community for London’s Southbank.

The Linear Park is more like a “ground line” according to Morgan, and it's meant to “connect city to park, park to people and people to community.”

The site of the park is currently occupied by a number of industrial outlets, depots and the New Covent Garden Market and it's in dire need to revitalization.

The park is due to open to the public in 2014, but it won’t realize its full potential until the Embassy Gardens housing development is complete in 2015.

Embassy Gardens will boast 2000 new homes, a vibrant mix of bars and restaurants and 130,000 square feet of retail when complete.

Nine Elms, the wider <strong><a href="http://inhabitat.com/humanims-baltimore-headquarters-re-uses-the-historic-american-brewery-building-to-help-revitalize-a-troubled-neighborhood/" target="_blank">revitalization</a></strong> zone, is planned to accommodate a whopping 16,000 new homes.