The final meeting of the NLA transport and infrastructure series brought multi-disciplinary experts together to reflect on the infrastructure delivery over the past year during London’s recovery. Discussions started with the challenges, opportunities and legacies of the London’s Streetspace programme and then concentrated on the key topics that should be taken forward to shape the next series of panel meetings.

 

During 2020/21 Transport for London (TfL) and London boroughs delivered 92.8km of new cycle routes, 88 Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and a vast amount of new pedestrian space and temporary alfresco dining opportunities. 

 

The panel recognised the unprecedented pace of delivering to support a green recovery. The temporary nature of some of these schemes has allowed for great opportunities to trial new infrastructure and initiatives such as alfresco dining, timed street closures and temporary cycle lanes. There has been differing opinions over the quality of the measures but nonetheless London has seen a step change in active travel with a greater diversity of users and economic benefits. 

 

Alfresco dining sparked a lively debate amongst panel members. It has been fantastic to see so many successful trials funded from central government but further consideration needs to be given to accessibility requirements, licencing and enforcement to allow these measures to continue in the future. 

 

Questions were raised over whether decision makers have gone far enough to really start to decarbonise London. Have they just tackled the quick wins and missed opportunities to change planning legalisation and challenge the real deep-rooted transport issues facing our city? 

 

It was noted that there has been a significant shift in attitudes towards our streets with a lot more collaboration between public and private organisations signifying joint ownership. Harbouring that community streets approach will be a key legacy for London and emphasises the importance of more meaningful stakeholder engagement going forward to shape our city.  

 

Over the next year, the group recommended key areas of focus should include: