StrandAldwych: 1 A sanctuary in the city

Dating as far back as AD 190, The Strand in Aldwych is one of London’s most famous and historic streets. Gateway to the capital’s Theatreland, the area is home to Somerset House, King’s College London, LSE and St Mary le Strand Church, as well as hotels, theatres and the Courtauld Institute of Art. It is also a notorious bottleneck for traffic heading from the City into the West End, with poor quality public spaces.

LDA Design and Westminster City Council have developed ambitious plans to transform the Strand into an animated, world-class cultural and learning quarter. The proposals will remove traffic from a 200-metre stretch to create an exciting new public realm, said to rival Trafalgar Square. Key design moves will help to resolve the challenges of congestion, pollution and safety. Client Area A revamped StrandAldwych will have a lively culture of exchange. Westminster City Council 1 ha Strand Aldwych could be a space where art is made not displayed; Location Schedule Central London where dance is rehearsed not performed. Putting people first, and Ongoing Services Used before cars, allows for the creation of a flexible and democratic public Landscape Architecture plaza adjacent to Somerset House and a garden space around St Mary 1 StrandAldwych, looking west le Strand Church, creating a new city sanctuary. Wider, less cluttered pavements will be easier to navigate, with additional places to sit. For the first time, people could be tempted to linger here. 1

1 Axonometric diagram of StrandAldwych. The project is a once-in- a-lifetime opportunity to create new gardens, lawns and flexible public space at the heart of one of central London’s most important thoroughfares.