The Undercroft has been an integral part of London’s  skateboarding scene since the 60s Pic: Wikimedia

The skate park on the Southbank – known as the birthplace of British skateboarding – has had a boost in its battle to avoid demolition.

Lambeth Council last week accepted Southbank’s Undercroft’s bid to be listed as a community asset. The status does not protect the skate park from redevelopment but gives campaigners the legal right to purchase the site if it comes up for sale.

This comes after the news that the Southbank Centre wanted to transform the ‘Festival Wing’ in a £120 million redevelopment plan and relocate the skate park further along the river, beneath Hungerford Bridge.

The decision to relocate the Southbank Undercroft hasn’t gone down well with locals as campaign group Long Live Southbank (LLSB) are fighting against the planning proposals, along with an additional 70,000 signatures in an online petition.

The Southbank Undercroft has been part of London since the 1960s, and LLSB claim it is the “oldest recognised and still existing skateboarding space in the world.”

The proposed redevelopment of the area would include a retail area of shops and restaurants, though LLSB are trying to grant Village Green status to stop any future developments.

The campaign has received support from the local community and even global Vans skate team who performed a skating demo earlier this week.

Boris Johnson has the final say on the future of the Undercroft, though he has voiced his support on the issue, saying in January at a planning meeting, “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.”

Despite Johnson’s words, Southbank Centre CEO Alan Bishop has indicated that he will appeal Lambeth Council’s decision.