Warwick Way town centre highways scheme consultation
Published: 15 December 2022
Last updated: 24 March 2023
Original consultation
The proposals aim to improve the public realm and pedestrian accessibility by reducing traffic on Warwick Way between Belgrave Road and Upper Tachbrook Street, and on Churton Street between Belgrave Road and Tachbrook Street.
Consultation description
The proposed scheme aims to improve the public realm and enhance pedestrian accessibility by reducing motor traffic dominance on Warwick Way between Belgrave Road and Upper Tachbrook Street, and on Churton Street between Belgrave Road and Tachbrook Street.
The scheme will formalise the current temporary measures which have been in place for the past two years and looks to take a pedestrian-centric approach, with the permanent conversion of the previously two-way streets to one-way westbound for Warwick Way, and one-way northbound for Churton Street and Tachbrook Street, allowing the widening of pavements on both sides.
The improvements proposals include:
- more opportunity for alfresco dining,
- better junctions
- controlled and informal crossing points,
- the introduction of trees and greening
- improvement to existing loading provision on Warwick Way, Upper Tachbrook Street, and parking provision on Tachbrook Street.
These will all enhance the levels of accessibility, make pedestrian movements easier and create a more pleasant environment in which to walk through and spend time.
There would also be an improved level of service for cyclists with access to Guildhouse Street at the junction with Warwick Way restricted to cyclists only. Cyclists currently use Longmoore Street as an eastbound route but the closure of Guildhouse Street to general traffic will make this a quieter and more attractive route. Southbound one-way working on Upper Tachbrook Street will be formalised and a northbound cycle lane introduced.
Proposed view of Warwick Way looking east from Warwick Way
Proposed view of Warwick Way looking west from Upper Tachbrook Street/Warwick Way junction
Proposed view of Churton Street looking south from Churton Street
Read a list of frequently asked questions
History of the scheme
The current temporary al-fresco dining measures were introduced in July 2020 during the COVID recovery period and provided restaurants, cafes and bars with outside dining facilities within the existing carriageway.
This was achieved by making Warwick Way one-way westbound and reallocating carriageway space to increase footway widths for social distancing. Two-way working on Churton Street was maintained in the temporary scheme and parking bays were suspended to allow for alfresco dining areas.
The aspiration for a permanent scheme was originally included as part of a wider study, Pimlico Place Strategy, where it was agreed that focusing on improvements to Warwick Way should be the priority going forward, and that the alfresco scheme would remain in place until the permanent scheme could be developed in detail and implemented.
Previous consultation
An online consultation, held during August and September 2021, found significant support for developing a town centre vision for Pimlico including a permanent alfresco scheme. This has given us a mandate to develop proposals for the permanent scheme now being consulted on.
The 2021 consultation also demonstrated similar levels of support for the retention of the temporary alfresco dining schemes on Warwick Way and Churton Street until a permanent scheme can be implemented.
A site meeting was held with our officers, local councillors and other stakeholders in April 2022 where it was agreed that one-way westbound for Warwick Way and one way northbound for Churton Street were the preferred options. We are now seeking feedback on the proposed permanent scheme.
Summary of the proposals
The scheme proposes to introduce the following improvements:
- Footway widening on both Warwick Way and Churton Street to allow for improved pedestrian movements and to provide additional space for public realm features and outdoor dining
- Retaining the one-way westbound operation on Warwick Way
- One-way northbound operation on Churton Street
- Relocation of existing street lighting to the front of the widened footway
- Greening of Warwick Way and Churton Street through tree planting
- Widening of existing pedestrian crossing points to provide more space while shortening the crossing distances to make crossing easier
- Resurfacing of the carriageway throughout the scheme
- New cycle stands (locations to be confirmed)
Latest plan and proposed scheme layout
Please use the button to download the latest pdf drawings which outline the current proposed scheme layout and plans.
Have your say
The public consultation has now closed.
All responses will now be carefully reviewed and the results of the consultation will be taken into consideration.
If a decision is made to go ahead with the proposed scheme, then we will progress the designs to a detailed level with a view to implementing the scheme.
Timeline and construction methodology
We will work with our contractors during the next design stages to assess construction methodology to minimise disruption.
Proposed timeline
Subject to consultation feedback, the following is the tentative timeframe:
- Initial design, January to May 2023
- Detailed design, May to August 2023
- Works mobilisation, August to September 2023
- Works start, October 2023