Old York Road Public Realm improvements
Old York Road has a strong sense of place and is a popular local high-street with a diverse mixture of uses and high-quality public realm, surrounded by a network of quiet residential streets.
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About the Old York Road scheme
In 2020 a scheme was initiated to explore the opportunities for re-appropriating the space on Old York Road and to develop a public realm that better represents how people want to visit and use Old York Road. The scheme was spurred on by a temporary pedestrianisation trial which was introduced on Old York Road during the COVID-19 pandemic, and which gave an opportunity to reimagine Old York Road.
The scheme is now in its final stage where the permanent redesign for Old York Road will be constructed.
View images of the Old York Road:
Aims
The scheme had the following aims:
- Enhance the attractiveness and inclusivity of the road to pedestrians;
- Support the road's role as part of Cycle Superhighway 8;
- Help to support economic activity; and
- Complement and mitigate Transport for London’s proposals for the removal of the Wandsworth one-way system.
Key elements of the permanent redesign
Main elements of the redesign for Old York Road:
Resurfacing
New and improved paving will be introduced along Old York Road to maintain an even surface for pedestrians.
Vehicle access
The existing vehicle access arrangements will be retained as part of the refurbishment, with vehicles allowed to access Ebner Street via Old York Road and the vehicle link between Tonsley Hill and Edgel Street retained. Vehicles will still be able to turn right onto Ferrier Street from Old York Road.
Business deliveries will still be able to be made via Old York Road, but the timings of these are expected to be restricted to outside of busy times. Dedicated loading bays will be introduced on Old York Road by Ebner Street and on Edgel Street.
Crossing points for pedestrians
Continuous crossings will be introduced on all the side roads to ensure a flat surface is maintained for pedestrians and to help make the highway code, which gives pedestrians right of way over traffic when waiting to cross or crossing a junction, intuitive for road users.
Two crossing points will be introduced over the cycleway in the form of zebra crossings opposite Ebner Street and opposite Edgel Street. A new parallel zebra crossing for pedestrians and cyclists will be installed next to the Bramford Gardens’ entrance on Old York Road.
The existing traffic signal crossing outside Wandsworth Town Station will be retained.
Seating and al fresco dining
Al fresco dining will continue on Old York Road, with local businesses able to place tables on the public highway. Additional public seating will also be introduced.
No outdoor seating areas will be introduced on Alma Road.
Buses
Buses will continue to use the routes that have been in place since 2020, with northbound buses using Morie Street and Ferrier Street, and southbound buses using Swandon Way.
There will be four bus stops for the No. 28, 44, N28 and N44 buses serving Old York Road including two new bus stops.
View a map of the bus stops serving Old York Road. Click on the blue, green and red pointers for descriptions.
Cycling on Old York Road
Cycle access on Old York Road will be retained, as will its status as part of Cycle Superhighway 8. Dedicated space for cyclists will also serve as the access road for delivery vehicles.
The temporary planters will be removed and replaced with in ground plantings, improving visibility between cyclists and pedestrians, with both the design and signage focused on reinforcing that Old York Road is a shared space and cyclists should take care and travel at low speeds.
Additional cycle parking will be integrated into the design.
Biodiversity and sustainable drainage systems
The existing trees on Old York Road will be retained, and the existing temporary planters will be replaced with permanent in-ground plantings that will also support drainage.
Timeline
|
Date |
Action |
|
July 2020 – October 2020 |
A Pedestrian and Cycle Zone is trialled on Old York Road on weekends only in response to lockdown restrictions (see Paper No. 20.169 and Paper No. 20.291). |
|
April 2021 – October 2021 |
A Pedestrian and Cycle Zone trial is re-introduced on Old York Road in response to lockdown restrictions with some amendments to the design. A public consultation runs for the duration of the trial. |
|
February 2022 – March 2022 |
Options for the permanent redesign for Old York Road are created and the public is consulted (see Paper No. 21-313 and Paper No.22-191) |
|
June 2022 |
Approval is given to start constructing the preferred permanent redesign of Old York Road (see Paper No.22-191) |
|
Expected to start in 2023 |
Construction of the permanent redesign of Old York Road commences |
Enquiries
For further information email the Transportation team at Transportation@wandsworth.gov.uk.