Proposals

PROPOSALS

Great Chapel Street and other roads around the new Crossrail station have been closed to vehicles for over a decade. 

Public realm works associated with the new station are complete however having been closed for an extended period. We proposed, and have now completed the 'Traffic Management Orders' process to making the exclusion of vehicles permanent. 

We have drafted designs for the permanent scheme and this consultation seeks your view on possible options. 

Roads affected are:

• Great Chapel Street 
• Fareham Street
• Dean Street – from its junction with Diadem Court to Fareham Street 
• Hollen Street - at its eastern most end

Example of raised shared surface

Check out the following documents

The current layout comprises a mix of Yorkstone, Granite and Asphalt. Our proposals will see the removal of asphalt and replacement with Yorkstone and/or Granite in its place. This will,

• Remove the defined ‘vehicle path’ and provide a uniform walking/cycling  surface from boundary to boundary
• Level surface by raising the road and removing trip hazards (kerb upstands).
• Consider tree planting 
• Consider cycling facilities 
• Deliver a space for pedestrians and cyclists to move about free of cars, vans and heavy goods vehicles.  

Please view the two options and take the short questionnaire to help us deliver the best space for residents, businesses and the many visitors to this thriving location in the heart of Soho. 

Option One

Option 1 seeks to provide an open space with a central spine of trees along Great Chapel Street. 

• The main focus being trees and open space. 
• The ‘less is more’ ideal with no defined route for cyclists. This eliminates the need for road markings and removes the ‘road space monsters’, preferring pedestrians and cyclists having to ‘share the space’ mentality. 
• Existing No-Entry signage would remain, however on Hollen Street the No-Entry would be repositioned 20m west into Hollen Street and granite material would extend to match. 
• Planters or similar features would be positioned as a physical barrier in Hollen Street and Fareham Street to deter vehicles. Note we would also have CCTV enforcement as an option to prohibit vehicles entering the space

Option Two

Option 2, looks at retaining the central road alignment and having this space for cycles. Trees could still be considered however would likely impact pedestrians if planted in the footways.

• Defined routes for cycles through the area
• May lead to ‘space monsters’ given the vehicle free environment and removal of asphalt which creates definition between cyclist and pedestrian routes. 
• Additional signage and extents of the scheme remain the same as in Option 1.