About Future Clapham

Future Clapham will see the town centre transformed by well-designed buildings that will complement the current streetscape. Public facilities will be designed to attract and welcome all potential visitors and provide excellent services for years to come.

The Future Clapham project aims for a greener and healthier future for Clapham. The project covers three sites in the town centre area.

• Clapham High Street - Mary Seacole House will be demolished to become a new state-of-the-art library with a customer centre, a cafe and performance space, alongside a new neighbourhood healthcare centre.
• Clapham Leisure Centre - The new leisure centre on Clapham Manor Street will be on the site of the existing centre and will feature a 6-lane, 25-metre swimming pool with moveable floor, larger fitness suite, 4-court sports hall, climbing wall and dance studios.
• Old Clapham Library building- This building will be kept in community use.

A sustainable development

The entire development will be built according to the most stringent environmental criteria. Cathedral Group will work with experienced sustainability consultants to achieve results that will:

• reduce carbon emissions to 30% below normal standards
• reduce normal water usage by 30%
• enable the development to generate its own power needs from renewable resources.

Clapham High Street

Mary Seacole House on the corner of Clapham High Street and St Luke's Avenue will be demolished to become a new state-of-the-art library. Designed by Studio Egret West, the innovative building will be based around a spiral theme, connecting the library and customer centre to a new GP surgery, a café, performance space, and community rooms.

New library and customer centre

The new Clapham library will be a modern building designed to catch your eye and entice you inside. There will be something to keep everyone entertained and informed. You’ll be able to: 

• browse the collection of books, DVDs and CDs
• relax in the café away from the bustle of SW4
• study in an informal area with desks and computers
• listen to your favourite podcast at special listening posts
• quickly download information at easy access terminals
• introduce children to reading in a specially-designed area
• watch an evening performance or listen to a live concert 
• see special art exhibitions
• access a range of council services in one place.

Healthcare centre 

Lambeth Primary Care Trust (PCT) is working closely with GPs at the Clapham Family Practice and with us to provide a new healthcare centre on Clapham High Street.

When the work is complete, the Clapham Family Practice will move there from its current location and a wider range of healthcare services will also be available.

Clapham Leisure Centre

The stunning leisure centre designed by specialists LA Architects, will be on the site of the existing centre on Clapham Manor Street.

The glass frontage will breathe light and life into the building. It has a simple layout with direct routes to all areas making it easily accessible for everybody. 

Facilities will include:

• a new standard, 6-lane x 25-metre pool, that will be wider than the existing pool with an adjustable depth suitable for competitive swimming and scuba-diving.
• more easily accessible main and learner pools that have a water level flush with the deck and poolside stairs
• a larger, 4-court sports hall providing a bigger space for badminton and team games
• a larger gym equipped with more exercise stations
• a climbing wall
• two studios for exercise classes and community use
• a cafe to relax and socialise in after a sports session.

Old Clapham Library building

You have told us you would like to see this building remain in community use. We're working with a local group to see how the local community can take an active role in running the space once the library service moves to its new high street location.

We're pleased that the department for Communities and Local Government agreed that this was an exciting opportunity to create a community-run cultural hub and are also offering their support and advice.

There will be opportunities to get involved with the plans for the old library so keep watching this space to be kept informed.