Camden sets out Tottenham Court Road transformation plan

Camden Council has unveiled a £26 million plan to transform the Tottenham Court Road area of the West End, in order to make the area safer and more attractive for residents, boost business and create new public spaces.

Ahead of the opening of the new Crossrail station in 2018, the project will replace the one-way system on Tottenham Court Road and Gower Street with two-way tree-lined streets, which will help to cut traffic and congestion in the area, reduce pollution and accidents, and make bus journeys quicker.

As part of the changes, wider pavements and safe and direct pedestrian crossings will be installed on Tottenham Court Road and New Oxford Street, while Gower Street will have protected cycle lanes and a new extra wide crossing outside University College London.

Four new public spaces will also be created, including a new pedestrianised plaza at the foot of Centre Point next to the new Crossrail station, while a new park is also set to be built in the heart of the West End in Alfred Place.

Sustainable transport is also on the agenda, with a network of safe cycle routes set to be opened up connecting Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia with the West End, in order to encourage more people to cycle.

A key aim of the project will be to address some issues that have affected the area for some time, including traffic congestion, narrow and cluttered pavements, and a lack of public space.

The existing one-way system on Tottenham Court Road and Gower Street increases journey times, with bus passengers finding the area confusing, given that bus routes start and end on different streets.

As a result of the Tottenham Court Road station improvement works, traffic has dropped by 30 per cent in recent years, and the new project will maintain that as well as further reducing traffic through the area.

Councillor Phil Jones, Cabinet Member with responsibility for transport, said the "ambitious" plans will transform the area into one of London's premier commercial, cultural and academic districts.

He added: "We’re aiming to make journeys quicker and safer, as well as creating a more attractive place for people to enjoy. We want to hear from local residents and businesses as part of our consultation to help us deliver a project which everyone can benefit from."

Camden is currently seeking views on the proposals, with a public consultation taking place from June 9th til 18 July 2014 and people invited to visit www.camden.gov.uk/westendproject to find out more.

Published 30th June, 2014

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