Supersized sinkhole opens up near busy train station

By Isobel Williams

A large sinkhole has opened up - just yards from one of the United Kingdom’s busiest train stations.

The hole, estimated to be three or four meters deep, appeared near the entrance of a construction site opposite London Bridge station last month.

The Fenning Street site is planned to become a 26-floor office building, which developers say aims to be 'the most sustainable office tower in London'.

The street remains closed to the public, and a metal fence covered with a white tarp hides the sinkhole from view.

Construction company Mace says they are still working with Southwark Council to determine the cause of the hole, but it is estimated the road will remain closed for “some time.”

In the meantime, a new entrance to the site has been established and work is continuing as normal.

A Mace spokesperson said: “Following the closure of Fenning Street, Mace is working with the Council and utility companies to determine the cause of the void in the road, which remains closed off for safety.

“The void, which is estimated to be 3-4m deep, impacted the entrance to our site and a new access route has had to be created to enable operations to continue safely.

“It is anticipated that Fenning Street will remain closed for some time whilst investigations continue.”

A representative from Southwark Council added: “Southwark Council is holding weekly meetings with Mace (site operators at an adjoining building site) and utilities companies following the appearance of a sinkhole in Fenning Street, SE1 on 6 January.

“The exact cause of the sinkhole remains under investigation and when the investigation is concluded we will share findings. The council’s engineering services are in close liaison with the team from Mace.

“The work is likely to take a number of weeks to complete although no timeframe can yet be confirmed.

“Work at the construction site continues with the hole being continually monitored seven days a week.”

EDGE declined to comment.