Agenda item

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning the Fleet Street Area Healthy Streets Plan (HSP) which would provide a framework for improvements to streets and public realm in the area.

An Officer introduced the report and stated that the HSP was a high-level plan and as the area was large it had been divided into several neighbourhoods. Officers had been working in coordination with the Fleet Street Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) which was producing their own public realm strategy for the area.

The Officer stated that public consultation had taken place over the summer and there had been approximately 600 responses which was a positive result. A significant number of those who responded were in support of the proposals. Some drop-in sessions had taken place and businesses and residents were able to discuss the proposals in more detail.

Members were informed that the next stage would be to form a working group made up of Members and interested parties including the BID. The Officer stated that projects from the plan could be taken forward as funding became available or funding bids were submitted. The Officer added that the report indicated some priority for the projects in each neighbourhood but the working group could help prioritise further.

A Member stated that the Fleet Street area suffered severely during the economic difficulties, and it was essential to improve the public realm. The Member commented that the Salisbury Square development would be open in 2026 and would bring a large number of people to the area to work in the development.

A Member commented that the pedestrian underpass under New Bridge Street, joining up Queen Victoria Street with the Thames Path, was not mentioned in the document or the BID equivalent document which had included an idea to decorate underneath the railway bridge. The Member stated that the underpass would provide a canvas for an artist or an art school and he stated there were examples of underpasses in London which included historical information. This could be used to make the underpass an interesting place to go. The Member raised concern about the people losing patience with the traffic signals on the road above and crossing the road without a signal and stated that the underpass could be a safer method of crossing the road. He stated that improving the look of the underpass could attract more people to use it.

The Chairman stated that the development of Blackfriars Station meant passengers were discharged onto the street rather than the underpass but this was a complicated

Junction so there was benefit in re-energising the underpass. An Officer stated that he understood that the underpass was built as a highway structure and therefore when New Bridge Street corridor ownership was transferred to TfL when TfL was created, the highway structure would have been transferred too. The Officer stated that he would clarify the ownership of the underpass, that improving the appearance of the underpass should be added to the plan and this would be discussed with TfL.

A Member asked if the City of London Corporation was closely co-ordinated with the BID project. An Officer confirmed that this was the case and a representative from the BID was attending the Sub-Committee meeting. The BID had been given the Healthy Streets Plan to review and the results of the consultation had been discussed. The BID had also shared their document with Officers. The working group would also include representation from the BID.  

In response to a Member’s question about whether there were any joint projects with the BID, an Officer stated that if the plan was adopted, and following the Public Realm Strategy launch, discussions would take place with the BID about the opportunities for working together, both generally across the whole programme but also with a particular initial focus on developing proposals for Fleet Street.

The Chairman stated that both the consultation and traffic analysis supported the approach being adopted and he was in support of the work. He added that this was an area that required greening, despite the difficulties in doing so due to Victorian pavement vaults and utilities under the pavement.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Sub-Committee

1.         Approve the Fleet Street Area Healthy Streets Plan in Appendix 4 of the Officer report;

2.         Approve the budget adjustment in Appendix 2 of the Officer report;

3.         Agree the establishment of a Fleet Street Area Programme Working Group to guide and manage the delivery of projects in the Plan area, including staff costs of £57,434 to manage this process for the next 12 months, funded from the Plan development underspend; and

4.         Note the allocation of £1,126,145 of S106 funds towards the delivery of projects in the Plan (as approved by the Sub-Committee on 26 September 2023).