Plans for a bumper 3,000 sq m public space near St Paul’s Cathedral is one step closer to becoming reality after councillors approved plans for a £14m make-over.
The spell-binding design is set to transform St Paul’s Gyratory into a pedestrian mecca and was approved by the City of London on Monday (June 5).
The proposal – which will see King Edward Street south of Angel Street close and St Paul’s Cathedral turned into an island surrounded by fast-moving traffic – include decking the square – known as King Edward Square – with rows of plants and reimaging a major junction along Cheapside.
The plan was backed by many of the 2,500 respondents who took part in the consultation and will see a two-way traffic system installed on Newgate Street and St Martin’s Le Grand.
St Bart’s Hospital said it was concerned the changes would impact ambulance delivery times but backed a tweaked scheme that would see Montague Street also turned into a two-way traffic system, according to City of London officers.
A council officer said: “We’ve met with them that’s why we’re progressing with sub-option 1A, which they’re quite happy with.
“What we think we can do is deliver an alternative route coming southbound on Montague Street, which actually means the [ambulance drivers] are not following their Sat-Navs and going along Little Britain”.
During Monday’s meeting, councillor Randall Keith Anderson said the plans risked turning the southern section of Little Britain into a high-congestion area.
“People live along there and if we should throw a lot of traffic onto what is a very small street, we will do no one any favours,” he said.
Councillor Paul Nicholas Martinelli claimed the proposal would see Giltspur Street turned into a “bus car park”.
“The bus stand plans in place for this scheme will effectively turn what is an open space, adjacent to some of the cultural spaces we’re trying to develop in the area, into a bus car park,” he said.
“If you look at the number of bus stands, you could have up to 20 buses parked in the area at any one time. [This] can’t be a reasonable, proportionate response”.
A council officer assured Cllr Martinelli no more than eight buses would be allowed to park on Giltspur Street under the scheme. He said this did not include the number of buses using the bus stop to drop off commuters.
Plans are also understood to be afoot to stop taxi and Uber drivers parking on Little Britain Street in a bid to protect “local amenities”.
A second phase of work will also see the removal of the rotunda and roundabout outside the former Museum of London site, which is subject to the Corporation’s London Wall West development going ahead.
The project, which isn’t set to break ground until at least 2025, is expected to cost taxpayers £14m.
The council wants to use large granite blocks salvaged from the Thames Tideway works on Victoria Embankment for the project.
It comes after members assessed two other options including one that would allow buses and people cycling to use the southern part of King Edward Street, while the third would involve more minor changes, but both would see a smaller public square replacing the current slip road.
