Information pack 2
Consultation Proposals
All Change at Bank Project
March 2021
1 Welcome
This slide pack talks through the elements of the proposed changes at Bank Junction. They explain what the proposed changes are, and the enhancements that could be achieved if the scheme were to be delivered.
These proposals would deliver the scheme aims of: • Simplifying the junction to make it safer.
• Reducing crowding and making it more comfortable to walk.
• Improving air quality; and
• Improving the perception of place, as a place to spend time in rather than pass through.
2 Looking at Queen Victoria Street (existing)
• There is a very wide carriageway on this street.
• Existing restrictions have already made this carriageway space between 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, largely unused.
• We are proposing to remove the bus services from this section of street.
3 Looking at Queen Victoria Street (proposed): 1
It is proposed that: • Only cyclists would be able to access or exit Bank Junction from Queen Victoria Street as shown by the yellow arrows. • This means the closure of Queen Victoria Street between Bucklersbury and Bank Junction for motor vehicles. • (the no entry except cycles sections starts at the red rectangles).
4 Looking at Queen Victoria Street: 2 • Vehicles that need to service Bucklersbury and Walbrook can continue to do so. • However, they would only be able to approach in an eastbound direction (red arrow) and exit in a westbound direction (white arrow). • This would be for 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
5 Looking at Queen Victoria Street: 3
• It is proposed to widen the pavements on both sides of the street and narrow the carriageway to one lane in each direction. • Additional cycle parking would be provided. • The existing 2 bay taxi rank would need to be moved approximately 65m to the west.
6 Looking at Queen Victoria Street: 4 • We are investigating whether it is feasible to install a vehicle charging point to help support the use of electric vehicles. • An access space for utility services is required in Queen Victoria Street. • It is proposed to provide a dedicated utility vehicle space to assist with the required maintenance regime.
7 Looking at Queen Victoria Street: 5 • Maintain flush crossing points across Queen Victoria Street and Bucklersbury (yellow arrows). • Raise the carriageway across the eastern end of Queen Victoria Street. Making it easier to cross the junction of Walbrook, Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street (white arrow).
8 Looking at Queen Victoria Street: 6 • The existing pedestrian crossing (red rectangle) would be moved closer to the junction with Poultry and Mansion House Street. • The new crossing point (indicated by the yellow arrow) offers easier east/west crossing for people walking between Bank Junction and Poultry.
9 Princes Street - Carriageway changes to date
2019
There were three lanes of traffic at the southern end of Princes Street in 2019, this has been reduced to two lanes in 2020.
10 Looking at Princes Street proposed: 1 Proposed to: • Narrow the approach to the Bank Junction to one lane (yellow arrow). • This means that traffic can only move in one direction at a time. This will be controlled by traffic signals. • This takes more time in the traffic signal sequence than allowing two arms to operate at once. • Therefore, only buses and cycles will be able to travel northbound throughout the day to regulate the flow of traffic.
11 Looking at Princes Street: 2
Access to Cornhill • It is proposed that the weekday restrictions of 7am to 7pm buses and cycles only, will remain on Cornhill, Poultry and Lombard Street. • Currently vehicles access Cornhill from Threadneedle Street during these times. Under these proposals this could no longer happen. It is proposed that: • vehicles requiring access will instead travel southbound on Princes Street and turn left into Cornhill to undertake their activity. (yellow arrow).
12 Looking at Princes Street: 3
• Access to Grocers Hall is maintained by travelling southbound on Princes Street and turning right into the private access (white arrow). • Pick up and drop off for the properties on Princes Street is maintained. Vehicles are required to turnaround safely (yellow arrow) unless they also require access to Cornhill. • There are no proposed changes to the bus routes that serve Princes Street. • The taxi rank at the north end of Princes Street is retained.
13 Looking at Princes Street: 4 • By removing one lane of traffic, it helps provide a much larger circulating area around the London Underground entrance/exit. • The pedestrian crossing is moved further away from the entrances/exits making it easier to wait to cross the street. • The visibility of the left turn from Mansion House Street into Princes Street is improved by the wider pavements. The underground entrance would no longer block this view. • Only cyclists will be able to make this left turn and there will be improved visibility for both people waiting to cross the street and the cyclists making the turn.
14 Threadneedle Street (existing)
• (There is a temporary social distancing scheme operating at the moment).
• Previously there was one lane of traffic in each direction and a cycle lane approaching the junction on Threadneedle Street.
• Pavements are quite narrow for the volume of people that use them, particularly in the peaks.
15 Looking at Threadneedle Street (proposed):1
• No motor vehicles to enter the length of Threadneedle Street between the Bank Junction and Bartholomew Lane (red rectangle). • Pavements will be widened on both sides of the street. • A dedicated and marked out cycle lane is proposed. This is not a shared space.
16 Looking at Threadneedle Street: 2 • It is proposed to raise a section of the cycle lane to be flush with the pavement to provide a step free link for people walking (yellow rectangle) between the Bank of England and the open space outside of the Royal Exchange. • The signalised crossing is retained towards Princes Street. (red rectangle).
17 What about the other streets? • Poultry, Lombard Street and Cornhill (highlighted in red) are proposed to operate the same as they do now. • The daytime restrictions of bus and cycle only Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm is proposed to remain. • After 7pm and at weekends, all traffic would be able to travel on these three arms across the junction.
18 The following plans outline the potential to enhance the environment around Bank to Enhancing these new spaces provide more greening and seating and to make it more of a place to spend time in.
19 Outside the Royal Exchange There are opportunities to: • Make the space outside the Royal Exchange more accessible and inclusive to be enjoyed by more people. • Provide a sloped access to the raised platform. • Remove the planter wall closest to the main junction and replace with steps to act as informal seating. • Provide new and refurbished benches and seating to provide space for people to rest.
20 Outside of Mansion House Opportunity to:
• Substantially widen the pavement. • Offer some seating for people to rest. • Add greening with some pots. • Not part of this project, but a space has been identified to be kept clear for a possible piece of artwork in the future should the All Change at Bank project go ahead.
21 Queen Victoria Street
Opportunity for:
• Trees with seating in between. • Ground level planters between the trees outside the Magistrates Court building. • A quiet space for people to stop and rest in.
22 Street Trees
Investigations so far give confidence that there is enough space for trees to be planted on: • Queen Victoria Street (blue circle); and • The eastern end of Threadneedle Street (red circle).
Other greening would need to be in planters or pots.
23 Impression of how these spaces could look.
An impression of the view looking towards the Bank of England and the Royal Exchange, followed by an impression of the view along Queen Victoria Street looking towards the Mansion House.
24 Which bus routes need to change? 1
Bus services that use: • Queen Victoria Street between Bank Junction and Queen Street; Or • Threadneedle Street between Bank Junction and Old Broad Street. • Old Broad Street between Threadneedle Street and London Wall.
This includes day routes • 8, 11, 26, 133 As well as night bus services : • N8, N11, N26, N133 and N242
This means that for people who use bus stops on Queen Victoria Street (between Queen Street and Bank Junction) and Threadneedle Street or Old Broad Street, their journey would be changed if they board or alight one of these services in this section.
25 Which bus routes need to change? 2
For those services which would no longer be able to use Queen Victoria Street, like the route 11, N11, 26 and N26, they would be rerouted to use Queen Street and Poultry instead, in both directions.
26 Which bus routes need to change? 3
For those services which would no longer be able to use Threadneedle Street, like the route 8, N8,11, N11, 26, N26, and N242 they would be rerouted to use Cornhill and Bishopsgate, in both directions.
27 Which bus routes need to change? 4
Only bus route 133 is proposed to no longer go through Bank Junction at all.
Currently the route 133 travels over London Bridge, along King William Street, across Bank into Threadneedle Street and then travels along Old Broad Street to Liverpool Street bus station.
It is proposed that instead, after crossing London Bridge, the route follows Gracechurch Street/Bishopsgate and into Wormwood Street to re-join its old route into Liverpool Street bus station.
These streets would be used in both directions.
28 What else could change?
The consultation survey also asks for people's views on what they think about possible options to change either: • the timings of the Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm restrictions or • the mix of traffic that can use the approaches of Poultry, Cornhill or Lombard Street and cross Bank Junction during the restricted times. • Or both
Further work is still required and requires the outcome of some other pieces of work to conclude (outside of this project) to ensure that any future proposal to change either of these element is balanced and appropriate.
29 Respond to the consultation The proposals shown in this presentation are available in plan form on the website to view in more detail. There is a link to an online survey that summarises the proposals and asks your view on 1. The proposed traffic and highways changes. 2. The enhancements to improve the spaces. 3. The bus route change proposals. 4. Views on possibly changing the timings of the restrictions on Poultry, Cornhill and Lombard Street and/or the mix of traffic; and 5. A section asking a few questions about you and your relationship with the City to help us understand any particular concerns held by different groups of people. If you would rather respond by email, then you can write to the project team: [email protected]
30 Attend a Questions and Answer Session
You can register to attend a zoom meeting where the proposals will be presented and then an opportunity for questions and answers will be given.
Details of these are on the webpage – www.Cityoflondon.gov.uk/allchangeatbank
Or you can email the project team your questions: [email protected]
If you would prefer the project team to call you – contact us on 020 7332 3030. You will be asked to leave your contact details and an outline of your question or request. A member of the project team will then call you back.
31 Thank you
If you have any questions on the information contained within this document then please email the project team:
Thank you
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