Greenwich town centre pedestrianisation: Plans still ongoing after 15 years

Remember those ideas of pedestrianising Greenwich town centre over the past 15 years – at least?

A fair few ideas have been and gone over the years including awarding £5.4 million seven years ago which didn’t lead anywhere. As far back as 2009 consultation was being undertaken.

Well it’s still bubbling away and looking through a recent Greenwich Council document showed that £197,748 had been secured from Transport for London for the town centre project.

Greenwich town centre pedestrianisation render from around a decade ago

A Contract Standing Orders report states Arcadis Consultancy (UK) Limited will see funds which covers a period between 10/06/2024 and 10/09/2025 for “continuation of Modelling Work on Greenwich Town Centre Liveable Neighbourhood Project”.

The Liveable Neighbourhood Project according to this Transport for London page, is for:

  • Improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists in Greenwich Town Centre by closing two arms of the gyratory to provide a more pedestrianised environment, in particular on the approach to the World Heritage Site
  • Improvements will also provide a safe cycling route through Greenwich Town Centre

According to previous proposals, the two sections of gyratory to be closed included College Walk which runs past an entrance to the Old Royal Naval College:

College Walk in Greenwich town centre

Also set for pedestrianisation is King William Walk.

This road includes bus stops and bus stands beside two lanes of general traffic.

King William Walk. University on left. Homes to right

In turn shop-lined Nelson Road would become two-way traffic.

Nelson Road is currently one-way

Before all that though came a potty plan to great one giant one-way system around the town including Norman Road which would have turned various other parts of the town into one-way streets.

One of those “what ARE they thinking?” ideas that was pretty quickly dropped around 15 years ago. Plans though to do something have been around for a long, long time.

Funding

Previous proposals were to be funded via TfL’s Local Implementation Plan.

This is a fund that each London borough receives annually from TfL which boroughs can supplement. Alongside the annual component it included a “major schemes” section which happened generally every four years until covid intervened.

Passey Place in Eltham after LIP upgrade

Eltham town centre’s upgrade was funded via this method.

LIP Major Schemes were renamed some years ago though annual funding to each London borough remains. This project is continuing under the now-closed Liveable Neighbourhoods programme.

How it will work in practice remains to be seen. Bus stops and stands on King William Walk would need to be shifted. Not an easy task.

What emerges remains to be seen. Will we still be paying consultants and talking about it in another five years?

 

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J Smith

I've lived in south east London most of my life growing up in Greenwich borough and working in the area for many years. The site has contributors on occasion and we cover many different topics. Living and working in the area offers an insight into what is happening locally.

    8 thoughts on “Greenwich town centre pedestrianisation: Plans still ongoing after 15 years

    • It would be great to have more pedestrianised areas. It would be so much nicer to walk around without cars buzzing around. I’m hoping Greenwich Market will be able to have more seating areas on College Approach, as well as the likes of Paul Rhodes, being able to provide outside seating.
      There was also talk of pedestrianising a section of Montpelier Vale in Blackheath but that never materialised.

      Reply
    • Sounds about right, pedestrian the section of Greenwich town centre with very little retail and have traffic clog up the roads with all the shops and eateries.
      Best place for the bus stands is between the town centre and Depford Creek so close to the DLR and mainline railway station plus miner bus stops along by the Museum.
      As is now anything over 7.5t is restricted from the area so making the area a car free zone at weekends and bank holidays with only buses and residents with permits could access could help solve the issue.
      So if Greenwich wishes to talk to me I will only charge a £10 per hour and get it sorted in one day.

      Reply
    • I remember a semi-serious plan for an underground bypass running the length of the river as one of the solutions to both traffic and pedestrianisation of the town centre. How will the traffic to the underground car park be controlled, or will that be shut off entirely? (it’s quite difficult using only the side road) Also, will the disabled spaces by Starbucks be moved? The traffic around the gyratory is almost leisurely at times, as the number of people making the dash from the Oxfam bookshop will attest. It looks like a good idea but I’d rather Greenwich spent their efforts sorting out the rotten parking around the rest of the borough.

      Like the giant Eltham signs now gently rotting at the top of the high street, it’s not something in need of an urgent answer, unlike the simple nightmare of Trafalgar Road at 7am when Iceland and Tesco are both getting a delivery at the same time.

      Reply
    • I do like the idea of more pedestrians areas of Greenwichh Town Centre to make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclist..The town centre can get very busy and congested with traffic. Buses like route 286 terminating in Greenwich could stand on Gteenwich Station/DLR. Forecourt and start journeys back towards Sidcup Queen Mary’s Hospital from the station.
      I just wonder how much money Greenwich Council have wasted on consultations and planning etc over the last 15 years or so. Rather than getting on with the job and getting the work done
      ..

      Reply
    • Nothing new about these plans which as you say have been around for approx fifteen years.
      The proposals of 2010/11 were dropped because of concerns from local people about traffic diversion .
      That would still be an issue with these existing plans.
      However the modelling contract appears to last until September 2025 so highly unlikely there will be any changes out for public consultation for some considerable time to come.

      Reply
    • As wot was it over 70% against the LTN wot there bringin in, leave things as they are. All they need to do on ere is put in more crossins for pedestrans. Ere are it aint all abahrt cyclists either on ere. Walk under the foot tunnel in your get run over n wot there doin iss illegal cyclin in the tunnel. I like cars n traffic meself so am appy with things wot they are.

      Reply
    • Greenwich is a borough full of attractive town centres that are blighted by traffic and pollution. It’s a horrible experience to work, shop and spend time in Greenwich and Blackheath highstreets. Why on earth did they ever think that it was a good place to plonk through traffic?

      They need to get serious and pedestrianise much more.

      Reply

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