STREETSCAPE GUIDANCE

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INTRODUCTION
PART A
A vision for London’s streets
PART B
From strategy to delivery
PART C
New measures for new challenges
PART D
Balancing priorities
PART F
Appendix
PART E
Physical design and materials
SECTION 6
Introduction
SECTION 7
High quality footways
SECTION 8
Carriageways
SECTION 9
Crossings
SECTION 10
Kerbside activity
SECTION 11
Footway amenities
SECTION 12
Safety and functionality
SECTION 13
Street environment
SECTION 14
Transport interchanges
Streetscape Guidance
3.6. Reversing a gyratory
[Part B] From strategy to delivery 28
Figure 24: Streetscape enhancement has improved the historical setting of Piccadilly and provided
greater space to accommodate the high level of pedestrian movement on the street
Piccadilly Two Way
City of Westminster W1J, SW1Y and
SW1A
Completion date: Phase 1 completed
June 2012
Cost:
£12.5m
Improvements
Recreate the space
Rethink traffic management
Relocate/merge functions
De-clutter
Tidy up
The road network from Piccadilly Circus to St
James’s Street junction, and through to Pall Mall/
Waterloo Place, was changed into a one-way
gyratory system in the 1960s to optimise traffic
flows in London. A by-product of this one-way
gyratory was streets dominated by traffic and an
unpleasant pedestrian environment.
Besides the reversal of a one-way working
system back to a two-way system, a major
achievement of this project has been the
partnership formed between TfL, Westminster
City Council and The Crown Estate. The
team worked collaboratively to undertake the
modelling and design rather than TfL assessing
a borough-led scheme. Three critical areas
were identified by the team: Piccadilly Circus,
Piccadilly/St James’s Street junction and Pall
Mall/ Waterloo Place. Each area required careful
design and testing to balance and maintain
efficient traffic flows and bus service reliability
in an area of very high footfall, while simplifying
crossings and creating additional public space in
this architecturally and historically significant part
of the Capital.
The scheme reintroduced a two-way traffic
system to the road network, as well as significant
improvements to the public realm. The scheme
has responded to the high footfall levels by
widening the footways on highly trafficked
walking routes. Informal pedestrian crossings
have been encouraged through the use of a wide
central median paved in light grey granite setts
and the removal of one kilometre of guardrailing.
Pedestrian crossings have been improved with
the use of single stage phasing and widened
crossing points.
Street lighting previously placed on either side
of the street was rationalised and included along
the central medi an. Signals were combined with
lighting and road markings were minimised where
practical. To reflect the area’s cultural and historic
significance, heritage-style lighting, Yorkstone
slabs, granite setts and kerbs were used.
The resulting street provides a quiet composition
that allows the rhythm and beauty of the buildings
to stand out. Movement for all modes has become
less congested, safer and more enjoyable.