Even more of London's West End could soon be pedestrianised, with new plans for Piccadilly Circus
Now, another section of the West End could see vehicles banned completely. Proposals have been put forward to pedestrianise Regent Street St James's – the road to the south of Piccadilly Circus that runs between Piccadilly and St James's Park – and to make the on-foot area of Piccadilly Circus bigger.
The scheme by Westminster City Council and The Crown Estate could also see improved cycle lanes on Regent Street and the introduction of two-way traffic on Haymarket. It also wants to see the 'greening' of Regent Street, with better pedestrian crossings and the removal of the island running down the centre of the road.
While traffic-free streets might seem like a modern idea, in fact this proposal reimagines a plan put forward by John Nash 200 years ago, Westminster Council said.
Geoff Barraclough, cabinet member for planning and economic development at Westminster City Council, said the plans would create 'a new network of public spaces'.
He added: 'This is a rare opportunity to reimagine the heart of the West End as a greener, more welcoming and accessible place that works better for residents, visitors and local businesses alike.'
Naysayers, you can hold your horses (or cars) for now. We won't know the outcome of the future of this scheme, including how it will be funded, until it is decided by the Crown Estate in 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Our picturesque seaside town has been invaded by Londoners... it is busier in summer but here is why that is a BAD thing
Locals are furious that an 'invasion of Londoners' into their quaint Kent seaside town is 'ruining' the area. They claim traffic has become unbearable, house prices have rocketed and jobs are harder to come by now in Sandgate, as a result. The small town, just outside Folkestone, is known for quaint beaches and colourful homes, and sits on the south coast. But its calm and unique charm is now attracting thousands of Londoners to move in and make it home - leaving locals fuming. Stats show 60 per cent of homes in the town are now being purchased by those from the capital. When the Daily Mail visited this week, there was an obvious divide between the two groups. But those who have moved from London strongly defended their decision, saying it had improved the area and boosted the town's economy. Margaret Fell, 77, described it as an 'invasion'. The retired teacher said: 'It's quite sad because I don't know many people here now. I've lived in the town for 50 years and I used to know everyone. Now I walk into town and I don't know anyone quite often. 'They have come from London and invaded. It's a great shame. I think it's gone too far. What started out as a nice boost and a bit of a resurgence has now just gone over the top. I hear a lot of young people say it is pushing up property prices, so they cannot afford to live here. So they move out and are replaced with those out of the area who can afford it. 'New residents and new homes won't do any good trying to get a doctor's appointment locally as well. The traffic has become an issue as well. It's being ruined.' Retired musician Simon Mundey, 65, said the situation 'really annoyed him'. He said: 'I moved here ten years ago and there's been serious changes since then. I don't like it here. 'I don't like the gentrified yuppies from London who have moved in. They are boring. 'It really annoys me what has happened. 'They want to cancel everything. They want a cancel culture. 'I don't like what this area has become.' Roger Joulin, 74, moved from Blackfriars in London 20 years ago, and said many more people have made the same move in the last few years. He said: 'It's most certainly pushed house prices up in the area. So some people trying to buy a house are struggling. 'Traffic has become worse, there's more cars on the road. The people themselves are great.' Lucy Williamson, 54, said she worried the town would lose its 'charm'. She said: 'It's bustling and busy in the summer. But if all these people move out and go back in the winter, it could leave things quite vulnerable. 'It's a secret little gem I think. We get tourism but also it stands on its own legs and that's because of locals. That's locals who have been here many years. 'If people are moving down to stay, that is great. But we don't want to become a tourist destination. That causes real problems.' The town's calm and unique charm has attracted thousands of Londoners to move in and make it home - leaving locals fuming Mark West, owner of Yap's Cafe, moved from Bexley in south east London, two years ago. The 63-year-old said: 'It's a beautiful town. I'm so glad I came down here. So many more people are coming. 'It's become the area is great and London has gone downhill. Sadiq Khan is the worst mayor on the planet. 'Crime is out of control in London, but there's barely any here. There's no community in London, there's a big one here. You feel welcome here, I didn't in London. I felt like I was being fined and caught out every five seconds. 'I didn't feel safe. It's changed forever. 'I could sell a £500,000 terraced home in Bexley and get a mansion down here. 'I've been made to feel very welcome. I know there's concerns people have about those coming from London. But I have opened this cafe and love it.' Full-time mum Debbie Pinto moved from London six years ago and urged others to do the same. The 62-year-old said: 'It's glorious. It's only one hour on the train into London, it works great. 'I can see why some locals are annoyed. I sympathise with them. You hear their concerns around property prices.' Child psychotherapist Jane Nash, 59, moved from London just a few weeks ago from east London. She said: 'There's some lovely places here. It's a beautiful place. I think people moving in brings benefits to the area.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Pretty town on the end of Underground route has best of both worlds
The town offers a bit of everything to those who still want to live within easy reach of the capital Buckinghamshire is a popular choice for commuters, with many of its towns serving as homes to those who travel into London for work. The rise of remote working led to a significant migration away from the capital. Despite its name, the London Underground extends well beyond the city limits, serving numerous towns outside London. One such Tube stop brings both tourists and commuters to the charming town of Amersham. It's no surprise that the town, popular with both groups, is frequently recognised as one of the best places to live in the country. A brief tour around the town makes it easy to understand why. But a deeper exploration reveals even more reasons. Nestled in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, Amersham is divided into the Old Town and Amersham-on-the-Hill. The Old Town boasts buildings that are 700 years old and, unsurprisingly, a rich history. Expect to see quaint cottages and cobbled streets. It resembles a typical English village, complete with a 13th-century church and an abundance of pubs. Old Amersham also offers boutiques, spas, historical sites and beautiful areas for walks and exploration. Meanwhile, Amersham-on-the-Hill is known for its modernity, featuring a lively high street and the Tube station. While it may not be as picturesque, residents still enjoy tree-lined streets. Property guru Phil Spencer of Move IQ dubbed Amersham one of the top commuter towns for London. However, this charming town doesn't come cheap. The average property in Amersham will set you back £750,000 - making some parts of London seem like a bargain. But the ease of travel from London to Amersham makes it an ideal commuter spot for those Londoners seeking respite from the capital's hustle and bustle. Amersham Underground station falls under Zone 9 on the network. There are 18 stops between Amersham and King's Cross, with the Metropolitan Line terminating at Aldgate. A 55-minute journey on the Metropolitan line will whisk you from Amersham to King's Cross. The service operates twice an hour, with the first train from Amersham to London departing at 5.30am and the last return leaving around midnight. And if you've had your fill of the Tube, you can opt to catch a train to Marylebone which takes a mere 32 minutes. For those driving to Amersham, the M40 will get you there in just an hour.
Times
3 days ago
- Times
Rachel Reeves says Heathrow expansion ‘essential' for growth plan
Rachel Reeves has vowed to face down the threat of legal challenges by Sir Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, over plans for a third runway at Heathrow. The chancellor said on Friday that the expansion of Britain's largest airport was 'essential' to her plans for growth and would boost exports for businesses in Scotland and across the country. She signalled her strong support for the planning proposal and stressed the decision was up to ministers rather than City Hall. The question of a third runway at Heathrow has blighted successive governments since the idea was first mooted in 2003, with years of wrangling over costs and the complexity of designs. However, Sir Keir Starmer is keen to push ahead and Heathrow bosses this week submitted plans to allow 276,000 more flights each year. Proposals for a 3,500m 'northwestern' runway were submitted to ministers as part of a wider £49 billion expansion programme, intended to facilitate 66 million more passengers annually. The plans also include the construction of a new terminal, T5X, the expansion of Terminal 2, and the rerouting of the M25. Heathrow said its runway and airfield plan would be privately funded at a cost of £21 billion, attributing the increase from its estimate of £14 billion in 2018 to 'construction inflation'. Despite an escalating row within Labour between the Treasury and City Hall, Reeves brushed off the threat of legal action by Khan. 'It is essential that we increase airport capacity in the UK,' she said, during a trip to Scotland. Pressed on Khan's opposition, Reeves said: 'These are decisions the national government makes and this Labour government backs Heathrow expansion. 'It will create new jobs, not just around Heathrow, but all around the UK, as it gives new export opportunities to businesses right across Britain.' Residents in villages around Heathrow have raised objections to the expansion ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Government sources also said Khan would not get 'any deferential treatment' just because he is a Labour mayor. They played down the prospect of a major legal hold-up again by pointing to ministers' plans to introduce legislation that will curb the ability of campaigners to use judicial reviews to block infrastructure projects. However, they stressed any decisions would be for the courts. Khan stood by the threat of a legal challenge, warning about a possible breach of the UK's climate targets. Khan said: 'I remain unconvinced that you can have a new runway, delivering hundreds of thousands of additional flights every year, without a hugely detrimental impact on our environment. 'City Hall will carefully scrutinise the new Heathrow expansion proposals — including the impact these would have on people living in the area and the huge knock-on effects for our transport infrastructure, which would require a comprehensive and costed plan to manage. I'll be keeping all options on the table in how we respond.' A survey by YouGov for the Times revealed that 30 per cent of people backed a third runway, while 18 per cent opposed it. The remainder said they did not fit into either category, or that they did not know. The survey suggested an increase in public support for upgrading the country's air infrastructure. YouGov polling in February found that participants generally favoured investing in other forms of transport infrastructure.
