Urban Planning
Park Lane
A proposal to remove all motor traffic from the Mayfair side of Park Lane, by reinstating two-way traffic on the historic East Carriage Drive, the current northbound. Creates a tree-lined and west-facing pedestrian Promenade more than 1000 metres long, ideally situated for outdoor hospitality. A Scenic Route would be created that extends all the way from Trafalgar Square to Marble Arch and Oxford Street, alongside or through three Royal Parks - St James's Park, Green Park, Hyde Park - and Buckingham Palace. Images above and below show the Mayfair side as proposed. In its opening sequence, the 1957 BFI travelogue Summer in Mayfair shows Park Lane traffic with East Carriage Drive as the primary route, prior to the 1960s highway changes. https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-summer-in-mayfair-1957-online
Marble Arch
By reinstating two-way traffic on the historic East Carriage Drive - current northbound side of Park Lane - Marble Arch can be planned as a four-cross-roads. A single pedestrian crossing connects Oxford Street with Hyde Park. Marble Arch Fountains are no longer isolated, but are directly connected to Hyde Park. Nic Fiddian-Green’s horse-head sculpture – Still Water – is reinstated, with lots of seating around it, plus lots of seating alongside Marble Arch Fountains. The new single pedestrian crossing from Oxford Street to Hyde Park is centred on the radial paths within Hyde Park. The new public realm area around Marble Arch, excluding grass surfaces, would compare in size with the pedestrian area of Trafalgar Square. Marble Arch is transformed into a pedestrian-friendly place no longer dominated by motor traffic.
Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner is planned as a peninsula in front of Apsley House, with two-way traffic on the other three sides. In a manner comparable to the removal of 5 lanes of motor traffic from in front of The National Gallery on the north side of Trafalgar Square, 6 lanes of motor traffic are removed from in front of Apsley House. By removing the existing motor traffic gyratory, a major new place for pedestrians is created in front of Apsley House, and Hyde Park Corner is no longer an island dominated by motor traffic. The new public space could be a ‘front garden’ for Apsley House with pillars of climbing roses and places for outdoor hospitality. The scheme was developed in response to a request from Terence Bendixson OBE, President Emeritus of Living Streets, to add it to my proposals for Park Lane and Marble Arch. In a ten-minute interview titled "Future streets prophet" with Peter Murray OBE, Co-Founder of New London Architecture, Terence Bendixson describes how we developed the proposals:
North Bank Walk - Victoria Embankment
Putting Pedestrians First along Victoria Embankment can add 8 or 9 metres to the space for pedestrians, creating a wide tree-lined riverside promenade to complement the South Bank Walk - a new major part of North Bank Walk. In accordance with Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan's Transport Strategy to reduce motor traffic in Central London, three/four lanes of motor traffic can be reduced to two - one in each direction – thereby also significantly improving air quality. At the western end of Victoria Embankment close to Westminster Bridge there is just one lane for motor traffic in each direction, so proving that it can work. A motor traffic trial could be used to test the proposal. This part of North Bank Walk can become a major riverside promenade almost 2000 metres long - major new pedestrian-friendly public realm for London.
Kensington High Street
A strategy to put Pedestrians First can transform Kensington High Street. In accordance with Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan's Transport Strategy to reduce motor traffic in Central London, at least part of the Central High Street area could be reduced to one lane in each direction, thereby creating an entirely new character for the Central High Street: a safe environment for people, including children, at the entrance to the Tube Station, and a very wide pedestrian crossing connecting the two sides. The image presented shows a very limited scheme. There are two areas in the western part of the Street where there is just one lane for motor traffic in each direction. Sloane Street is a far more ambitious example. Kensington High Street could be more efficiently planned without the central reservation areas - creating more space for pedestrians and/or cycle lanes.
The National Gallery - Trafalgar Square
A proposal to put Pedestrians First at the new main entrance to The National Gallery. All motor traffic can be removed from the new main entrance to The National Gallery, from the west side of Trafalgar Square, and from part of Pall Mall East by reinstating two-way traffic on Cockspur Street, which is the location of the 'natural flow' of traffic from Haymarket to Nelson's column. At present motor traffic is forced onto a divertion from its natural flow. By reinstating two-way traffic on Cockspur Street, a major new pedestrian-friendly space can be created at the new main entrance to The National Gallery. This new public space is also addressed by the formal portico of Canada House.
YouTube Videos
Pedestrians First at Park Lane, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner
A 2-minute video illustrating proposed transformation of Park Lane, Marble Arch, and Hyde Park Corner - creating major new pedestrian-friendly places.
Park Lane and the Scenic Route from Trafalgar Square to Marble Arch and Oxford Street
A 5-minute video illustrating how putting Pedestrians First on Park Lane creates a major Scenic Route all the way from Trafalgar Square to Marble Arch and Oxford Street alongside or through three Royal Parks - St James's Park, Green Park, Hyde Park - and Buckingham Palace.
Park Lane context: traffic - pollution - history - regeneration
A 7-minute video illustrating context for the proposed transformation of Park Lane into a place that puts Pedestrians First, and reinstates two-way motor traffic on the primary historic route called East Carriage Drive - current northbound - so that it becomes one of London's premier tree-lined Avenues, alongside Constitution Hill and The Mall. Removing the triple-gyratories at Marble Arch, Park Lane, and Hyde Park Corner will significantly reduce air pollution and greatly transform the area, creating major new pedestrian-friendly public realm. Other regenerations also illustrated - in London, Copenhagen, Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, New York City, and Mexico City.
Pedestrians First along North Bank Walk - Victoria Embankment
A 2-minute video showing a proposal to create a major riverside promenade along Victoria Embankment, extending about 2000 metres from Westminster Bridge via Golden Jubilee Bridges, and Waterloo Bridge, all the way to Southwark Bridge. Putting Pedestrians First along Victoria Embankment can add 8 or 9 metres to the space for pedestrians, creating a wide tree-lined riverside promenade to complement the South Bank Walk - North Bank Walk. In accordance with Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan's Transport Strategy to reduce motor traffic in Central London, three/four lanes of motor traffic can be reduced to two - one in each direction – thereby also significantly improving air quality.
Pedestrians First on Kensington High Street
A 1-minute video showing a proposal to create an entirely new pedestrian-friendly High Street for Kensington, by reducing the current four lanes of motor traffic outside the Tube Station to two lanes - one in each direction. With the addition of a very wide pedestrian crossing connecting the two sides, the character is changed into one that is safe for people, including children, and one where the existing hostile metal barriers can be removed. There are currently two areas in the western part of Kensington High Street where there is just one lane for motor traffic in each direction, thereby proving that it can work. Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan's Transport Strategy is to reduce motor traffic in Central London, and also to reduce pollution. The image presented shows a very limited scheme, which could be far more ambitious.
Pedestrians First at the entrance to The National Gallery
A 1-minute video showing a proposal to remove all motor traffic from the new main entrance to The National Gallery, the west side of Trafalgar Square, and part of Pall Mall East by reinstating two-way traffic on Cockspur Street. The 'natural flow' of motor traffic from Haymarket to Nelson's Column is along Cockspur Street, and not along a forced diversion onto Pall Mall East in front of The National Gallery. The new pedestrian-friendly public space is also addressed by the formal portico of Canada House. A significant improvement for The National Gallery, for Canada House, and for Trafalgar Square.
Alternative St James's Park site option for proposed Queen Elizabeth II Memorial
An alternative site option for proposed Queen Elizabeth II Memorial in St James's Park, alongside Buckingham Palace, and facing the full length of St James's Park all the way to Horseguards Parade.