Parliament Square could be transformed into a “people-friendly” space under ambitious plans to ban traffic from part of the area.
A business group has published a detailed blueprint “reimagining” the square, Whitehall and the Victoria Embankment if pedestrians were given priority over traffic.
This could involve closing or part-closing two or three sides of Parliament Square to vehicles, so traffic from Victoria Street would be rerouted along Great George Street towards St James’s Park.
Bridge Street, the congested area next to the main Westminster Tube entrance, could be part-pedestrianised to create more space for the crowds visiting the Houses of Parliament.
The proposal is the latest from the London Heritage Quarter business organisation, which pulls together the work of its four business improvement districts — Victoria, Victoria Westminster, Whitehall and Northbank.
Ruth Duston, chief executive of London Heritage Quarter, said the proposed changes to Parliament Square were part of a much bigger vision for the wider area, which stretches from Victoria station to Trafalgar Square and the north bank of the Thames.
She said: “We have got an enormous opportunity to really think, post-pandemic, about how we regenerate the city. We should promote more ‘walkability’ and easier pedestrian routes where we can, traffic reduction and improved air quality.”
She said the Parliament Square plans were at the “conceptual” stage — with modelling yet to be carried out to assess the impact on traffic.
“This is what we would love to be able to achieve – to make this place safe and attractive for people coming in to Parliament Square,” she said. “The square is little more than a traffic island. Who would want to sit there at the moment and breathe in all of that pollution?
“We have got these historic buildings and a fantastic square that could be so enjoyed by tourists, visitors, workers and residents, if only we could create a new civic space for people.”
Nine priority areas, from “quick wins” such as improving signage to medium and longer-term ambitions that will take five to 10 years to realise, are listed in a 170-page document.
It has been presented to the Cabinet Office’s public realm steering board.Parliament Square falls under the control of Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Other ideas include a “Whitehall river walk” — a riverfront connection between Westminster Pier and the new Thames Tideway space near Blackfriars.
A digital “Queen’s walk” route from Buckingham Palace to the Thames via Horse Guards, and a “King’s walk” via King Charles Street, which passes Churchill’s War Rooms and the Foreign Office, are also suggested as a way of guiding visitors to “hidden gems”.
The blueprint states: “For many years now Whitehall has been an international destination which draws numerous tourists from around the globe.
“Despite this, at present, the main routes through the area have been engineered to give priority to vehicles over pedestrians.
“Pedestrian congestion is particularly problematic around significant sites such as Horse Guards Parade, Westminster Station and Trafalgar Square. In addition, there are multiple traffic lanes which makes the main thoroughfare of Whitehall a difficult road to cross.
“As a location of national significance and as one of the key destinations for visitors to the UK, Whitehall should be a positive, memorable and engaging experience for pedestrians. At present, this is not the case.”
“The poor arrival experience around Westminster Underground Station is particularly notable, given that many visitors have their first view of the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) from the entrance on Bridge Street.
“The exit is dark and unwelcoming, leading to a very busy footway and carriageway, with little opportunity to dwell, get bearings, and gaze upon the iconic views.”
