The Housing and Regeneration Policy and Scrutiny Committee met to review a Cabinet Member decision regarding the Warwick Avenue Public Realm Scheme. The committee voted to take no further action, allowing the decision to stand.

Warwick Avenue Public Realm Scheme

The committee reviewed a call-in of the Cabinet Member decision concerning the Warwick Avenue Public Realm Scheme – Design and Implementation. The decision, originally approved on 12th March 2026, was called in by Councillors David Harvey, Paul Fisher, and Ralu Oteh-Osoka due to concerns about value for money, the potential exacerbation of anti-social behaviour, safety of proposed cycling measures, unresolved operational matters, and the adequacy of resident consultation.

Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, introduced the scheme, highlighting its aims to address safety, accessibility, and environmental issues in a busy neighbourhood centre and station gateway. He stated that the project had cross-party support and originated from a previous Conservative administration. The scheme aims to rebalance the street in favour of pedestrians and cyclists, resolve refuse and recycling challenges, introduce greening and sustainable drainage systems, and improve streetscape quality. The total cost of the scheme is £3.6 million, with approximately £710,000 already spent on early stages of design and consultation. A further £2.98 million is sought to progress to detailed design and implementation.

Concerns were raised by Councillor Melvyn Caplan and Councillor Lorraine Dean, both ward members for Little Venice, about the scheme's cost, particularly the use of Yorkstone paving, which they questioned the necessity of. They also expressed reservations about the safety of proposed cycling measures at the junction of Warrington Crescent and Clifton Gardens and the lack of clarity on certain operational details, such as the relocation of motorcycle parking and refuse collection arrangements. Councillor Dean also noted that the scheme did not include additional pedestrian crossings, despite previous proposals having done so.

Officers responded to these concerns, explaining that the cost of natural stone paving, including Yorkstone, was approximately £298,000, representing about 10% of the total project cost. They argued that natural stone offers greater longevity and reduced maintenance compared to artificial alternatives, and has a better carbon impact. The Road Safety Audit for the Warrington Crescent and Clifton Gardens junction had been completed, and the design had been simplified to narrow the carriageway, which is expected to reduce vehicle speeds and discourage overtaking. Officers also confirmed that operational matters, including motorcycle parking relocation and refuse collection, would be confirmed during the detailed design stage.

Regarding community engagement, officers stated that over 670 responses had been received across multiple rounds of consultation, which they considered sufficient to inform the design. They acknowledged that more engagement would always be desirable and that learnings were being taken for future projects.

The committee also discussed concerns about potential increases in anti-social behaviour, with officers noting that the Metropolitan Police's Designing Out Crime Unit had raised no substantial concerns about the proposed layout, lighting, or seating. They highlighted that the bench design would include armrests to deter rough sleeping and that the council would work across teams to manage anti-social behaviour.

Following the discussion, the committee voted on whether to take no further action or refer the decision back to the decision-maker. The majority of committee members voted to take no further action, meaning the Cabinet Member's decision to proceed with the Warwick Avenue Public Realm Scheme will be implemented.