The client identified 4 key requirements
The studies confirm the need to improve the balance between people and traffic
What will happen to people and traffic
St Martin's Place and Northumberland Avenue
Horse Guards Parade and Route to River
Raleigh Gardens and Whitehall's hidden spaces
Broad Sanctuary and Residential Areas
Environmental gain/traffic pain
We have traced the movements of over 10,000 people who live, work and visit the area
Trafalgar Square
People walk around the edge of the square ... the pavements are heavily congested ... Londoners do not make use of the square itself ... there are few facilities for visitors
Visitors do not make full use of the square ... the centre of the square is desolate
People take risks to cross busy roads. The King Charles I Statue for instance is an important destination for visitors ... the views are excellent ... it is a photo opportunity. In the last 5 years there have been 255 accidents of which 140 involved pedestrians
Whitehall
Occasionally a grand, ceremonial route, often empty. People rarely walk from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square ... uninviting except at Horse Guards which is often over-crowded. In the last 5 years there have been 97 accidents of which 25 involved pedestrians
Parliament Square
The centre of the square is under-used ... the pavements around the edge are over-crowded ... a poor setting for a World Heritage Site.. there are currently no pedestrian crossings to get you into the square. In the last 5 years within the Parliament Square area which includes Broad Sanctuary and the Bridge Street/Embankment junction, there have been 208 accidents of which 78 involved pedestrians, one of the worst accident spots in Central London