A hidden park in central London, passed by thousands daily, remains almost always deserted despite being open to the public. The small green space, located behind the Southbank Centre, was created as part of the redevelopment of the former Downstream Building of the Shell Centre into flats, known as the Whitehouse Apartments, in the 1990s.
Secret Garden in Plain Sight
London blogger Ian Mansfield recently highlighted the situation on social media, posting images of the small gate and narrow entry into the park. He noted that while the owners would prefer visitors stay away, they are legally required to allow public access as a planning condition. A plaque at the gate states: 'Private access is permitted to part of the garden by members of the public daily between dawn and dusk.' The owners can exclude people in case of unreasonable behaviour or security issues, under an agreement with Lambeth Council via Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Section 106 Explained
Section 106 is a clause in larger planning applications requiring developers to provide amenities like parks, road improvements, or even schools and GP surgeries. In this case, the garden was a condition for the residential development.
On his blog IanVisits, Mansfield explained: 'It’s not that the owners go to a lot of effort to make it welcoming, with no seating, lots of locked gates and warning notices that it’s private.' He added: 'I say it’s open to the public, I’ve never seen anyone using it, and once I became aware that it’s supposed to be open to the public, checked a few times only to see the gates locked each time.'
Park Features and Public Reaction
Photos show a large paved area with circular grass sections and a non-functioning fountain. The only accessible gate is on the north side. Social media users expressed fascination and frustration. One commented: 'This is a really interesting and useful post, thank you.' Another asked: 'Is it always locked and you have to ask permission or something?' A third wrote: 'It is not especially beautiful, but important that we exercise our right to visit.' Others called it 'unattractive' and 'a wasted space.' One former resident recalled: 'I used to live there and on my first day I looked out at the garden and saw a naked man jumping around in the fountain. Great place.'
