Agenda item

Tree Planting and City Greening

William Pimlott asked a question of the Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee concerning the City’s commitments to greening and tree planting in the Square Mile in the coming period.

Responding, the Chair advised that the emerging City of London Local Plan 2036 had ambitious targets to increase greening and tree planting across the City, noting the positive correlation between urban greening and good mental and physical health. Given that the provision of large green spaces in the City’s high-density urban environment was difficult to achieve, he observed that small areas of soft landscaping, together with green walls and green roofs associated with buildings and the public realm would, therefore, play a vital role.

In relation to trees and canopy cover, the Chair advised that there were currently over 2,650 trees in the City, an increase from 2,400 in 2012, providing a canopy cover of 2.4%. Whilst this is below the canopy cover in our neighbouring boroughs, the City’s size, density of development and, importantly, the extensive network of services below ground, limited the scope for significant increases in tree cover. Nevertheless, the City Corporation’s Tree Strategy was currently being reviewed with a view to implementing more ambitious targets.

Beech Street

Sue Pearson asked a question of the Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee concerning plans to make the Beech Street tunnel the first zero emission street in London.

In reply, the Chair observed that Beech Street suffered from some of the worst air pollution levels in the Square Mile as, due to the enclosed nature of the street, pollution was effectively trapped and could not easily disperse. This scheme was intended to address the immediate need to bring air quality on Beech Street within legal limits, as well as serving as a pathfinder for wider ambitions to encourage and enable greater use of zero-emission vehicles across the City.

The Chair apologised for any confusion or alarm arising from media reporting on the scheme in late 2019, advising that the engagement plan for residents and businesses, including those in the Golden Lane area, was to be undertaken in the New Year. He agreed that it was not acceptable for residents and business to have first learned of the scheme in this manner and added that, with greater certainty about the start date for the scheme now in place, communications with local communities and businesses would commence imminently. Relevant Members would also have received an information note and a plan of the scheme.

With reference to specific queries concerning the scheme’s objectives, the Chair outlined the desire to bring a significant improvement in air quality and health benefits for users and to bring nitrogen dioxide levels on Beech Street and at the entrances to Richard Cloudesley School and Prior Weston Primary School within the limits set out by the European Union and World Health Organisation. He also outlined the various options that had been considered, resulting in a decision to progress with a two-way zero emission street. The scheme was being implemented under an experimental traffic order and the consultation period would coincide with the first six months of the restriction. This, together with comprehensive monitoring, would allow for adaptations to be made as the scheme progressed, allowing the City Corporation to respond to any issues, whilst also informing a final decision.

Sue Pearson asked a supplementary question in which she highlighted the unavoidable detrimental impact of the proposed scheme on residents of the Golden Lane and adjacent areas, particularly in respect of the displacement of traffic and associated air pollution, noise and road safety compared with the minimal benefits to cyclists and pedestrians who would be using the tunnel by choice and only for short periods of time. Given this, she suggested that it appeared the project constituted a vanity project that would enable the City to boast of creating the first zero emission zone in the country, irrespective of the impact on residents. The Chair reminded Members that this was an experimental scheme and the impacts would be monitored closely. It was intended that the effects of this scheme, if successful, could be promulgated across the City, presenting an opportunity to change the tone and method of travel across the area, to the benefit of all in the Square Mile and beyond. Beech Street suffered from the worst air quality in the City and it was, therefore, an appropriate starting point for this new approach.

Responding to further supplementary questions, the Chair agreed with the importance of ensuring effective communication with residents and undertook to ensure that consultation with residents and local Ward Members was in place before the scheme began. He also noted the importance of working with neighbouring boroughs and Transport for London to ensure that plans were joined-up in the wider area and the impacts were fully understood.