London Eye: What the public says about application to make South Bank attraction permanent

A planning application which would see the London Eye retained permanently on the South Bank has received support from local organisations.

The application to Lambeth Council is required to secure the attraction's future beyond 2028, due to a condition in a 2003 planning permission.

Owner London Eye Management Services Ltd, part of Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, submitted details for approval of its permanent retention to Lambeth Council in July 2023.

The application is being considered by council officers before going to the authority's planning committee and has received eight public comments. All are positive, although one is recorded as an "objects" due to a condition attached. 

The British Association of Leisure Parks, which stated that the application has its full support, wrote: "The Eye has delivered regeneration to that area over the last 25 years and has brought millions of people from all over the world to this great city. 

"The vision and creativity that David Marks and Julia Barfield brought to this project, all those years ago, has stood the test of time and delivered an iconic London attraction that is known across the globe. The London Eye deserves to be permanently located and will continue to be an asset to the South Bank, London and the UK."

The Southbank Centre's response references the original section 106 agreement which covered funding for infrastructure in the area.

It stated: "Having carefully considered these impacts, we consider that beyond the continuation of the existing section 106, which we support, there are additional mitigation measures required in relation to the maintenance and renewal of Jubilee Gardens and the Southbank Centre's wider Queens Walk estate."

It called for the London Eye's owner to contribute towards the replacement of the promenade at the end of its lifecycle. The cost is calculated to total £1,760,158, over 20 years, according to a calculation commissioned from Gardiner & Theobald.

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Jubilee Gardens Trust wrote: "The London Eye is an outstanding attraction, with exceptional economic and public benefits to the South Bank, Lambeth and London, and to UK tourism, domestic and international. There is no doubt that its operation should be extended indefinitely as proposed by the applicant."

The trust asked for capital contributions to replace assets, when required, at Jubilee Gardens, the green space next to the Eye.

An unnamed submission recorded as "objects" states: "I support the London Eye being granted permanent status, but in doing so, I believe it crucial that not only is the current way of dealing with Section 106 continued but that there is an increased level of capital and revenue funds to mitigate the Eye's impacts on the wider neighbourhood, including Jubilee Gardens and the Riverside walkway and Bernie Spain Gardens."