Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment on Beech Street Transport and Public Realm Improvements, seeking approval to increase the scope of the project to investigate the feasibility of a two-way closure of Beech Street and to realign the project objectives. The Director of the Built Environment introduced the report and updated Members on the project. Positive meetings were continuing to take place at Member and officer level with partner stakeholders, including the GLA and TfL.

The Chairman advised Members that he and the Chair of Policy & Resources had met with the Deputy Mayor for Transport and the Walking and Cycling Commissioner at the GLA to discuss a number of issues, including Beech Street, and had gotten their full buy-in, and approval of the collaborative approach with Islington. The project was firmly on the political agenda. The Director of the Built Environment advised Members of his meeting with the Head of Surface Transport at TfL. TfL understood the City Corporation’s aims and objectives around the project and the desire to trial closure. The holistic approach to the project would continue to include TfL and Islington going forward.

Members welcomed the report and were encouraged by the continuing dialogue and accelerated timetable. A Member suggested that officers consider the rate of uptake of ULEV vehicles, as this may negate the need for full closure of the street. A Member raised that the 153 bus route now had an entirely electric fleet, and therefore a buses-only exception could be considered. A Member added that removing traffic was a positive move but access for the residents nearby would need to be considered, and it also needed to avoid diverting traffic to Golden Lane or creating a rat run.

The Director of the Built Environment responded that officers had considered ULEV and that this would be part of the options appraisal for the long-term. TfL had raised the issue of bus routes and officers would work with them to find a solution. Allowing buses had the disadvantage of the loss of public realm benefit so this would need to be taken into consideration.

In response to a query from a Member, the Director of the Built Environment responded that the Gateway 4 report to be brought to Committee in May 2019 on the first interim stage would contain more detailed and complete information on the budget and financing of the project. The £30million set out for programme affiliation related to three workstreams including waterproofing. Modelling of the wider area would also be undertaken during the next stage of the project, and any issues that arose such as rat runs would be mitigated.

RESOLVED – That the Streets & Walkways Sub-Committee:

a)    Note the resolutions from the previous Committee meetings (September 2018) tasking officers with investigating the feasibility of an eastbound and westbound closure, as well as exploring the option of introducing Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) restrictions along Beech Street and investigating options to accelerating the project;

b)    Note the progress and findings to date;

c)    Note the next steps, programme, key project risks & opportunities;

d)    Approve an increase in the scope of the project to investigate the feasibility of a two-way closure of Beech Street (both interim and long-term proposals); and

e)    Approve the Project Objectives.