Cabinet will consider NCIL funding allocations following the Winter Round 2026.

Cabinet approved the following recommendations:

To approve £250,000 of NCIL funding from the Bayswater neighbourhood area towards the WCC Strategic Transport and Connectivity Informal Side Road Zebra Crossings.

Reasons for Decision:

The Council is required to allocate NCIL funds with regards to the local priorities set out in Westminster’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Spending Policy Statement (October 2022), as well as national legislation and regulations.

The Informal Side Road Zebra Crossings project proposes the installation of at least 20 new informal zebra crossings at various side road junctions across the Bayswater ward. The scheme delivers low cost, high impact pedestrian safety improvements by applying non prescribed zebra markings at junctions where pedestrians currently face poor visibility and low driver yielding. These informal zebras do not require full signalisation, making them quick to install and cost effective. The proposal follows the Council’s recent trial across 11 locations, where the markings were shown to significantly improve pedestrian safety and user confidence.

This project is required due to pedestrians in Bayswater currently face challenging and often unsafe conditions when crossing side road junctions. Following the installation of informal zebra markings at trial sites, there was a clear and consistent improvement in how drivers behaved, with significantly more of them stopping for pedestrians.

The project aligns with the Council’s CIL Spending Policy, particularly in supporting safer, more accessible neighbourhoods. It directly advances the priority of Sustainable and Active Travel, as the new informal crossings make walking easier and safer, encouraging people to choose active modes rather than relying on vehicles. The project also supports Accessible and Inclusive Public Spaces because the design includes features that improve safety and independence for vulnerable pedestrians, such as dropped kerbs and tactile paving. These elements help ensure that all road users can move around the area more confidently.

It was agreed that recommendation 2.1 would be withdrawn and a revised proposal brought back to a future meeting of Cabinet.