Warwick Way town centre highways scheme consultation

The latest update on this scheme can be found here

Consultation outcome

We received more than 700 responses to the consultation about proposed changes around Warwick Way, with a majority of respondents in favour of both proposals.

We will continue to develop the permanent proposals for Warwick Way and Churton Street, and incorporate the feedback in the upcoming design phase.

You can read the full summary of the consultation in the pdf below:

Document

Warwick Way consultation outcome, executive summaryPDF, 621.15 K

What we consulted on 

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.

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.

Warwick Way consultation planPDF, 401.39 KB, 1 page

Document

Churton Street consultation planPDF, 360.83 KB, 1 page

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

Below provides an overview of the most frequently asked questions. 

1. How will the road layout change?

Warwick Way:

• The existing temporary one-way westbound traffic direction on Warwick Way between Upper Tachbrook Street and Belgrave Road will be made permanent.
• The existing temporary left turn ban into Warwick Way from Wilton Road will be made permanent.
• The existing temporary right turn ban into Warwick Way from Denbigh Street will be made permanent.
• No access for general traffic to Warwick Way from Belgrave Road except cyclists
• Guildhouse Street will be closed at the junction with Warwick Way, except for access for emergency vehicles and cyclists.

Upper Tachbrook Street

• The existing temporary one-way southbound traffic direction on Upper Tachbrook Street will be made permanent.
• The temporary access for northbound cyclists will be formalised with a northbound contraflow cycle lane introduced between Warwick Way and Longmoore Street.

Longmoore Street

• The existing temporary one-way eastbound traffic direction on Longmoore Street between Wilton Road and Upper Tachbrook Street to be made permanent

Churton Street

• Churton Street will become one-way northbound between Belgrave Road and Tachbrook Street.
• Vehicles must turn right into Churton Street from Charlwood Place.
• Vehicles must turn left into Churton Street from Churton Place.

Tachbrook Street

• Tachbrook Street will become one-way eastbound between Churton Street and Charlwood Street.
• There will be no access for general traffic into Tachbrook Street at the junction with Charlwood Street. Consequently, the priority at this junction will change.

2. Why is the one-way operation being implemented?

Making Warwick Way and Churton Street one-way provides an opportunity to widen footways which in turn allows for improved pedestrian accessibility and the potential for outdoor dining.

An online consultation, held during August/ September 2021, found significant support for developing the existing temporary al fresco scheme into a permanent scheme. Following the consultation, a meeting held by WCC officers, local councillors and other stakeholders in April 2022 agreed that proposals making Warwick Way one-way westbound, Churton Street one-way northbound and Tachbrook Street one-way eastbound should be developed. 

3. What purpose does the footway widening serve?

Footway widening allows for improved pedestrian movements and provides space for outdoor dining. At junctions or where pedestrians tend to cross the carriageway, the widening provides better visibility for pedestrians and reduces the crossing distance. This enhances permeability between different sides of the road, creating a pedestrian friendly environment for people to walk, shop and dine.

Also, the footway widening will:

• Reduce the dominance of traffic and help to calm traffic speeds
• Enable provision of inset parking and loading bays, thereby protecting parked vehicles and free vehicle movement along the carriageway
• Provide space for tree planting, and other infrastructure such as cycle parking

4. What alfresco dining will be provided and wat happens to the existing alfresco dining?

The widened footway provides room to maintain alfresco dining. Within the permanent scheme this would be located against the building line instead of utilising parking bays within the carriageway as is currently in operation within the temporary scheme. It is envisaged that this will provide a more efficient set up for businesses and allow pedestrian to make full use of the widened footway space.   

Licences for alfresco dining are agreed between businesses and Westminster city council on a case-by-case basis.

5. What greening is being introduced to the high street? 

On Churton Street, Upper Tachbrook Street and Denbigh Street, a number of trees will need to be relocated to the new widened section of footway. On top of this, the widened footway provides an opportunity to introduce new trees which have been proposed on Warwick Way, Upper Tachbrook Street and Churton Street. There will be a net increase of eight new trees on Warwick Way, one new tree on Upper Tachbrook Street and six new trees on Churton Street. Final tree location and numbers will be subject to further investigations.

6. What happens with the parking and loading bays? 

Compared to the temporary scheme arrangement, there will be a gain of three parking spaces for the Warwick Way proposal and a gain of four spaces for the Churton Street proposal.

Existing parallel parking on the northern side of Tachbrook Street will be converted to echelon parking resulting in a net gain of four parking bays. 

Existing parallel parking and disabled parking bay on the southern side of Tachbrook Street will be retained.

Three existing resident permit holder bays on Churton Street by Tachbrook Market will be converted to pay by phone parking bays, offset by resident permit bays being provided elsewhere along Churton Street and Tachbrook Street. 

Dedicated inset loading bays will be introduced/maintained at four locations on Warwick Way and three locations on Churton Street. These will be at locations where loading is currently permitted.

One new inset loading bay will be introduced on Upper Tachbrook Street and another on Denbigh Street.

7. How is cycling affected?

Eastbound cyclists on Warwick Way will follow new route onto Guildhouse Street then along Longmoore Street to Upper Tachbrook Street as they currently do in the temporary scheme. Westbound cyclists would follow Warwick Way with general traffic.

Cyclists on Churton Street would be restricted to travelling one-way northbound with general traffic.

The number of cycle parking stands will be increased and spread out throughout the entire wider area and the detail will be considered during the next stages of design.

8. What would be the likely impact of construction? 

The scheme would be built in phases to minimise disruption. 

Pedestrian access to all properties will be maintained throughout but some parking suspensions and road closures are required to facilitate safe practices and excavation.

During construction noise and dust will be carefully managed, and a Public Liaison Officer (PLO) will be on site weekly to inform all stakeholders about progress. The PLO will also agree with commercial frontages timings to pave their frontages, temporary parking suspensions and resolve any questions, doubts, or concerns.

9. How long would it take to get build and what closures are to be expected?  

It is anticipated that construction of the scheme could commence in Autumn 2023. The City Council will work with its contractors during the next design stages to establish the works duration and assess construction methodology that will minimise disruption. 

10. Are any other works being done? 

If the scheme is taken forward, construction will be coordinated with other planned utility repairs and maintenance.