A Second World War deep level bunker will be opened to the public as a restaurant or cafe, after Transport for London (TfL) received planning permission from Lambeth Council.

Wandsworth Times:

The shelter, which is a Grade II listed rotunda building near Clapham South Tube station, will also host an exhibition by the London Transport Museum (LTM) as part of its Hidden London tours of deep-level shelters. 

An exhibition space telling the history of the tunnels will be displayed when the tours are not running.

Under the rotunda, and under the Northern line tunnels, lies eight deep-level air-raid shelters that were built between 1940 and 1942.

The shelters are one set of seven built along the Northern line route and were used from 1944 during the bombing of London. More than 8,000 residents sought shelter there. 

It closed in 1945 and was used as a military and civilian hostel.

In 1948, nearly 500 Jamaican migrants were housed there after arriving on the HMT Empire Windrush.

The shelters were used again in 1951 during the Festival of Britain, to house tourists and school children. 

Wandsworth Times:

Graeme Craig, director of commercial development at TfL, said: "Clapham South's deep-level shelters have played an important role in shaping the London that we know today.

"The planning approval that we have received from Lambeth Council means that this structure can once again be brought back to life.

"Linking the new restaurant or café above ground with the historic shelters below ground showcases how we are opening up our assets to Londoners and delivering value for fare payers."

TfL will put the development to the market in the New Year, and work could begin by mid-2016. 

Sam Mullins, director for London Transport Museum, said: "We're really excited about the transformation of the Rotunda into a new restaurant or café on Clapham Common.

"We look forward to working with the new tenants to create a very special visitor experience about this piece of hidden London history.

"This new exhibition space will add an interesting element to our already popular Hidden London tours."