Agenda item

Report of the Interim Executive Director Environment.

Members considered a report of the Interim Executive Director Environment which summarised the results of the recent public consultation, detailed proposed modifications to the highway design following an assessment of consultation feedback, sought Member approval for the project team to progress the recommended highway design option to detailed design stage and provided an update on progress with the RIBA stage 3 developed design for the new public space.

In the discussion, the following main points were made:

·       An Officer confirmed that the £15-£17m funding was in place. Officers intended to report back to the Sub-Committee with the proposed developed design in May 2024, with a Gateway 5 report in October 2025 to start work and they looked to start work in Spring 2025. It was anticipated that all works would be completed by May 2027.

·       The Chairman stated that with so many expectations and demands on the space, care would need to be taken not to try and accommodate everything as this would likely prove to be unsuccessful.

·       Members welcomed the playground space. A Member stated that there had been equal written responses from public consultation with a preference for sports and playground space. It was considered that the space would be a better location for children playing than for adults exercising and play space was desirable in this location as it was close to a number of tourist attractions. There had been much feedback from hotels and Destination City that play space was needed.

·       Members discussed whether the square could successfully accommodate both a play area for children as well as exercise space and facilities for adults. It was agreed that play space for children was the highest priority of the two, and Officers were requested to note and factor this into their final design proposals.

·       A Member commented on the loss of coach parking and asked where this would be located. An Officer stated that on-street provision had been cross referenced against Tower Hill coach park provision. Since the 81 Newgate Street work had commenced, there had only been two spaces in the project area and two spaces would be retained at Angel Street.

·       An Officer clarified that the guard railing would be removed at the junction of Newgate Street and St Martin Le Grand. He added that this junction was the most complex in the scheme. Signage and road markings on the ground would be improved to assist cyclists and pedestrians. There would be advance stop lines and early release traffic lights to assist cyclists.

·       The Officer confirmed that TfL were involved in the modelling and stated that it had not been possible to formalise a diagonal crossing for pedestrians and although there would be an all-green phase, it would not last long enough for a formal diagonal crossing.

·       A Member stated that the parts of the project on the routes used for the Lord Mayor’s Show and Cart Marking needed to be able to accommodate wide vehicles.

·       A Member commented that the changes should be child-friendly.

·       A Member requested that the Christ’s Hospital statue be a prominent feature in any design. An Officer stated that there were proposals and these would be sent to Members of the Sub-Committee.

·       A Member commented that this was an historic area and she would have preferred two-way traffic, with St Martin Le Grand, King Edward Street and Little Britain for blue light services, local traffic and cyclists and she considered that this would be safer for cyclists and be better for the hospital. An Officer stated that others including St Bartholomew’s Hospital had the same view but when this approach was modelled, it did not work and was therefore set aside. Officers had undertaken to look at this approach again when phase 2 was being considered. The Officer added that this approach would mean King Edward Street could become a Healthy Hospital Street. The Member asked that flexibility should be retained by having temporary rather than permanent build-outs and loading bays which could be changed in the final design.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Sub-Committee

1.        Approve commencing detailed design of the traffic and highway elements of Option 1A that include: the introduction of two-way working on Newgate Street, part of St. Martin’s Le Grand and Montague Street; the reversal of traffic flow on Angel Street; and the closure of the southern section of King Edward Street to enable the creation of the new public space.

2.        Authorise officers to progress the statutory consultation on the necessary Traffic Management Orders related to the highway option 1A ahead of Gateway 5.

3.        Delegate authority to the Interim Executive Director Environment, in consultation with the Chairman of Streets & Walkways, to make changes to highway option 1A that arise during the detailed design stage.

4.        Note that the design for the new public space is currently being progressed to a RIBA Stage 3 (incorporating changes arising from the public consultation feedback) and the final proposal will be presented to Members for approval in an Update Report in May.

5.        Agree that up to 116m² of space be reserved for either play or exercise equipment or retained as planting/seating within the new square; noting that the introduction of play or exercise equipment will result in up to a 10.6% reduction of planting (66m²), up to a 12.5% reduction in seating (20 linear metre) and up to a 1.8% reduction in footway (50m²) and reduced permeability (see Appendix 10 of the Officer report for more information). A final recommendation on the use of this space for either play, exercise or planting (along with any proposed equipment to be introduced) will be made in the Update Report.

6.        Note that Greyfriars Square was the most popular name for the new space in the public consultation and that officers will progress the statutory process for re-naming a street pursuant to existing delegations.

7.        Approve an additional budget of £2,116,630 from the agreed capital allocation (OSPR) to reach Gateway 5.

8.        Note the total project budget of £5,344,622 (excluding risk) to reach Gateway 5.

9.        Note the total estimated cost range of the project at £15- 17 million.

10.      Delegate authority to the Interim Executive Director Environment, in consultation with the Chamberlain, to make any further adjustments (above existing authority within the project procedures) between elements of the budget.

11.      That Officers consider whether a formal diagonal crossing could be included in the scheme.