The Streets and Walkways Sub (Planning and Transportation) Committee met to discuss a number of street improvement projects, adopt the Bunhill, Barbican & Golden Lane Healthy Neighbourhood Plan, and consider the designs for Leadenhall Street as part of the City Cluster Vision Programme. The committee also discussed and approved Section 278 agreements¹ for developments at 65 Gresham Street and 40 Leadenhall Street. Deputy John Edwards, Deputy Chairman, was elected as the Deputy Chairman for the meeting.

Bunhill, Barbican & Golden Lane Healthy Neighbourhood Plan

The committee adopted the Bunhill, Barbican & Golden Lane Healthy Neighbourhood Plan (HNP), which aims to improve air quality and the experience for pedestrians in the area. The plan proposes traffic management changes and public realm improvements. A budget of £40,383 was approved for staff costs to manage the programme during the next reporting period.

The HNP includes the following proposals:

• Beech Street: Reducing through traffic, with 71% of consultation respondents supporting traffic restrictions in both directions to widen pavements.
• Chiswell Street: Exploring improvements to the zebra crossing near Bunhill Row, with 78% of respondents in support.
• Golden Lane: Exploring the closure of Golden Lane to through motor traffic at the junction with Beech Street, with 80% of respondents in support.
• Fann Street: Exploring improvements to the existing traffic gate at the junction of Fore Street and Viscount Street, with 82% of respondents in support.
• Bridgewater Street: Exploring the full or partial closure of Bridgewater Street to through motor traffic at the junction with Beech Street, with 79% of respondents in support.
• Brackley Street: Converting Brackley Street to one-way westbound for motor vehicles, with 76% of respondents in support.
• Moor Lane: Progressing a design based on a closure to through motor traffic, with the exact location of the closure subject to further consultation.
• Moorfields: Exploring traffic changes to make Moorfields, north of Moor Place, one-way southbound for motor traffic, with 83% of respondents in support.

Leadenhall Street Improvements – City Cluster Vision Programme

The committee approved the scheme design for Leadenhall Street improvements, which are part of the City Cluster Vision Programme, and agreed to progress the required Traffic Management Orders up to the 'Notice of Intent' stage. The total estimated cost of the project is £7-8.5 million.

The approved design includes:

• A narrowed carriageway to allow for wider pavements.
• Raised pedestrian crossings.
• Inset loading bays, with the western bay proposed as a part-time taxi rank.
• Revised bus stop locations.
• Security measures.
• Greening and sustainable drainage systems.
• Historical and cultural interpretations.

The committee noted that a public consultation on the proposals had been held between December 2024 and February 2025, with 70% of respondents expressing support. Concerns were raised regarding the impact on cyclists, with some advocating for dedicated and protected cycle lanes. In response, officers stated that the traffic volumes on Leadenhall Street lend themselves to mixing cyclists and motor vehicles in the same lane, and that widening the pavements was considered the priority in the design.

65 Gresham Street S278

The committee approved an additional budget of £135,000 for the 65 Gresham Street S278 project to reach the next gateway, and authorised officers to invoice the developer for this amount. The project involves works to improve the public highway associated with the development at 65 Gresham Street, including the potential pedestrianisation of Aldermanbury.

Four options have been outlined for Aldermanbury between Gresham Street and Love Lane:

• Option 1: Full pedestrianisation of Aldermanbury between Love Lane and access road to Guildhall Yard, and the creation of a new public space.
• Option 2: As Option 1, but with an informal cycle path incorporated.
• Option 3: Implementation of pedestrian priority measures, such as a raised carriageway and timed traffic restrictions.
• Option 4: Retention of the existing street function with improved pavements and other more modest enhancements.

Options 1 and 4 were recommended to progress to the next stage of design.

40 Leadenhall Street S278

The committee approved the content of the outcome report for the 40 Leadenhall Street S278 project, and authorised officers to finalise the accounts for the project, as well as for the 52-54 Lime Street Phase 1 and 10 Fenchurch Street S278 projects. The committee also agreed to close these three projects.

The S278 works at 40 Leadenhall Street, along with deferred works at 52-54 Lime Street and 10 Fenchurch Avenue, are now substantially complete. However, the required carriageway resurfacing on Leadenhall Street, Billiter Street and Fenchurch Street has been deferred until a later date.

Moor Lane Environmental Enhancements

The committee received a report on the Moor Lane Environmental Enhancements project, which is exploring options for closing Moor Lane to through traffic. A design will be developed based on a closure to through motor traffic, with the exact location of the closure being subject to further consultation.

Other Matters

The committee received reports on policy and projects delegated decisions from January to March 2025, and outstanding references.