A £600,000 refurbishment of two railway bridges beside East Putney Underground station has divided local opinion after the structures were painted vivid blue and yellow, earning them the nickname “IKEA bridges.”
The project was completed in May 2026, but renewed attention in July has raised questions about the cost, colour approval and absence of public consultation. Wandsworth Council says the money covered extensive repairs and cleaning across both bridges, not just repainting, and there is currently no plan to change the finish.
Where are the East Putney bridges?
The bridges cross Upper Richmond Road on either side of East Putney station in south-west London. Thousands of Underground passengers, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians pass beneath them.
The metalwork previously had a faded terracotta or reddish-brown finish that blended with the surrounding brickwork. It is now deep blue with a bright yellow upper band and large white “East Putney” lettering.
The colour combination prompted comparisons with IKEA’s branding. Other descriptions have included Minions and the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag.
Why did the refurbishment cost £600,000?
The £600,000 figure applies to the complete renewal of two railway bridges. It was not solely the cost of paint or choosing a new colour scheme.
Wandsworth Council says the project included:
- Deep-cleaning the two bridges and underpasses
- Preparing and repainting the metal surfaces
- Jet-washing accumulated dirt from the brickwork
- Repointing and repairing damaged masonry
- Installing improved pigeon-proofing
- Adding new “East Putney” lettering
- Managing overnight traffic and railway safety arrangements
Bridge maintenance can be more expensive than ordinary exterior decoration because contractors must work around live railway infrastructure and a busy public road. Specialist access equipment, restricted working hours and traffic controls can add to the overall bill.
Who paid for the work?
The council says the £600,000 came from contributions collected from property developers. It therefore maintains that local council-tax payers did not directly fund the refurbishment.
Wandsworth Council led the improvement scheme in partnership with Network Rail and Transport for London. The bridges are part of the transport network, so the work had to meet railway specifications and safety requirements.
The council’s official refurbishment announcement said the objective was to make the area cleaner, safer and more welcoming for people using the station and surrounding streets.
Who approved the blue-and-yellow colours?
The design was approved before the May 2026 local elections. Former Labour East Putney councillor Finna Ayres has been identified in local reporting as the councillor who approved the colour treatment.
Conservative East Putney councillor George Crivelli has supported the cleaning and structural improvements but said the final colours were too bright. His principal criticism was that residents were not invited to comment before such a noticeable change was made.
Why was there no public consultation?
The council classified the project as capital maintenance rather than a new planning development or public-art installation. A formal consultation was therefore not considered necessary.
Critics argue that the classification does not address the visual impact. Although repairing and cleaning the bridges may be routine maintenance, changing them from muted brown to intense blue and yellow significantly altered a familiar local landmark.
A computer-generated preview released before construction appeared to show a softer blue and a less intense cream or gold band. The completed bridges look brighter in photographs, although no official finding has concluded that contractors used colours outside the approved specification.
What do local residents think?
Reaction has been mixed. Some people appreciate that the bridges are cleaner, repaired and easier to identify, while others consider the colours out of character with the surrounding Victorian brickwork.
An informal local poll published in May attracted 245 responses. Thirty-five per cent selected “I’m filing a complaint,” 25% compared the scheme with the Ukrainian flag and 15% said they liked the IKEA appearance. Because participation was voluntary, the figures should not be treated as a representative survey of East Putney.
A senior council transport planner reportedly said the number of negative comments was relatively small compared with the large population and volume of station users in the area.
When was the work carried out?
Work began on March 2, 2026, with activity scheduled mainly between 10pm and 5am for about 40 nights, excluding weekends. Upper Richmond Road remained open, although temporary traffic lights and single-lane restrictions were used.
The refurbishment was completed in May. It formed part of a wider Wandsworth programme to improve bridges and underpasses in East Putney, Balham, Battersea, Tooting and Wandsworth Town through cleaning, lighting, repairs, artwork and pigeon-control measures.
Passengers planning journeys elsewhere in the capital can check the latest London Underground strike dates and TfL travel advice. Separate engineering work will result in the 22-day closure of two London railway stations.
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Will the bridges be repainted?
As of July 21, 2026, Wandsworth Council has announced no plan to repaint the bridges or revise the design. Crivelli has suggested the finish may become less intense as it naturally weathers.
Residents who want to comment can contact their ward councillors or Wandsworth Council. Concerns involving the railway structures may also be directed to Network Rail, while construction-noise complaints are handled through the council’s environmental health service.
The dispute now centres on whether consultation should be required when routine infrastructure maintenance produces a major visual change. For the moment, the repairs remain in place—and so does the blue-and-yellow colour scheme.
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