The Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Wandsworth Council met on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, to discuss updates on the Local Plan, the Walking and Cycling Strategy, the Highways Maintenance Programme, and car club provision. Key decisions included progress on the Local Plan's affordable housing policies, significant advancements in walking and cycling infrastructure, a substantial investment in highway maintenance, and strategies to address the impact of Zipcar's withdrawal from the car club market.

Local Plan Update

The committee received an update on the Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review, which focuses on increasing affordable housing delivery, particularly social rented homes. The plan proposes a minimum of 70% of new affordable homes to be social rented, a significant increase from the previous 50%. While awaiting the Planning Inspector's final report, the general indication is positive, with most proposed policies not requiring material modification. A key modification suggested by the inspector would align the council's affordable housing policy with the London Plan's thresholds for the Fast Track Route, which may be disappointing but would not undermine the overall aim of increasing affordable housing. The council's proposals for a 70% social rent split for affordable housing and financial contributions from small sites remain largely unaffected.

Review of the Walking and Cycling Strategy

Significant progress has been made in implementing the Wandsworth Walking and Cycling Strategy. Over the past year, the council has delivered new pedestrian crossings, expanded its School Streets programme to cover 32 schools, and substantially increased secure cycle parking, with over 2,076 spaces now available. Major infrastructure projects like Queenstown Road and Old York Road are progressing well, with Queenstown Road's scheme aiming to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The strategy also includes plans for new quiet cycle routes, with several expected to be completed in the coming months. Updates were provided on specific schemes, including improvements at Putney Bridge junction, where traffic flow has seen some improvement following signal timing adjustments, and ongoing works on Wandsworth Bridge to enhance cycle lanes. The committee also discussed the Totterdown Street pedestrianisation scheme and improvements to Burntwood Lane.

Highways Maintenance Programme

The committee reviewed the proposed Highway Maintenance Programme for 2026/27, which outlines a significant investment of £10.25 million in road and pavement renewals. This programme is part of a larger 10-year commitment to invest £100 million in the borough's highway network. The council is exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence for road condition monitoring to improve efficiency. The programme prioritises roads and pavements based on structural condition, safety risks, and local importance, with a focus on preventing further deterioration and improving overall network performance. The report also detailed plans for housing estate roads and pavements, funded by the Housing Revenue Account.

Car Clubs

The committee discussed the impact of Zipcar's withdrawal from the UK market on car club provision in Wandsworth. Zipcar was the dominant operator, providing the majority of back-to-base car club vehicles and all free-floating services. To mitigate the loss of provision and prevent an increase in private car ownership, the council is taking steps to encourage other accredited operators. This includes waiving permit fees until April 2027 and simplifying the service level agreement process. While it's unlikely all vacant bays will be reoccupied by car clubs, the council proposes repurposing unused bays for other sustainable transport uses, such as e-bike and e-scooter parking, or EV charging points, with resident permit parking as a last resort. The committee also discussed the potential for expanding the shared cargo bike scheme and trialling parklets.