St Paul’s Gyratory Transformation Project, City of London, for City of London Corporation, with NRP, LDA Design and Transport for London

Through the closure of a three lane carriageway, the St Paul’s Gyratory Transformation Project will create a 3000sqm public area focused on green infrastructure and sustainable water management. Phase two will remove the rotunda and roundabout outside the former Museum of London site. The £14m project will contribute to a biodiversity corridor which will be part of a new Leisure Walk from Peckham to Epping Forest.

Who is on the project team? (designer, consultants, etc)

Norman Rourke Pryme (highway design)

LDA Design (Landscape design)

Light Follows Behaviour (Lighting design)

Pluvium Environmental (SUDs)

Historic England and Cheapside Business Alliance.

Please describe your approach to this future public realm. How does it knit into, and serve the needs of the wider area?

This is a complex project with many competing needs for limited highway space and it has been developed to meet the following objectives: • Improve the experience of walking and cycling • Create quality public spaces • Create a safer environment for all • Meet the access needs of residents and businesses. The proposals enable transformational change across the project area. The current gyratory system is largely removed and introducing two-way traffic on Newgate Street and part of St. Martin’s Le Grand creates an opportunity to close the southern section of King Edward Street to create a large, new public space. Comprehensive improvements for people walking are proposed, including better crossing and new facilities and the conversion of almost 1500m2 of road to pavement. Over 800 metres of new cycle lanes are proposed which are protected cycle routes where space permits. There would also be changes to bus stop locations, bus stands, coach and taxi bays and parking and loading restrictions. The project team has worked closely with residents and local stakeholders. These include Bart’s Hospital to ensure that access to the hospital is improved and the developers of 81 Newgate Street who have made a substantial financial contribution to the project. It is currently costed at between £15-17 million with construction scheduled to start in early 2025. 

Describe the social impact of the project: How will it contribute to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of the wider place and its community?

The project’s measures of success include: • Reduction of roads-related casualties towards the Vision Zero target • Improved pedestrian comfort levels – before and after assessment confirms • Improved air quality by reducing NO2 levels – monitoring underway • Creation of new public spaces – over 3000m2 created; improved Urban Greening Factor • Improved quality of the public realm to create streets and public spaces for people to admire and enjoy – Healthier Streets Design development has also considered how the project assists the delivery of the City’s strategies and initiatives including Destination City, the Transport Strategy and the Climate Action Strategy. Destination City aims to enhance the Square Mile’s leisure offer to increase its appeal to existing and new audiences by creating a fun, inclusive, innovative and sustainable ecosystem. It will deliver an exciting events programme including outdoor festivals, music, art, education, sport and wellness. A substantial new public space in heart of the Square Mile will help deliver this vision. The new public space is designed to facilitate place activation and community events and connections to power and water supply will be included. But first and foremost, it should be a destination that the City community can spend time in to relax, socialise, work and play. 

What is the sustainability strategy for the project? How will the carbon use and material impact of the development be mitigated?

The centrepiece of the transformation project is the closure of a three lane carriageway to create a new 3000m2 public space. The evolving design will improve green infrastructure, biodiversity, air quality and climate resilience; sustainably managing water, encouraging active travel and embedding whole life and low carbon principles. Various types and styles of seating are proposed across the new space so that people can relax and spend time there. New trees will be planted. Trees and soft landscaping will be durable to the changing climate. Sustainable urban systems will mean that rain drains into sewers more slowly. A substantial number of large granite blocks have been salvaged from the Thames Tideway works on Victoria Embankment. These have been incorporated into five rain gardens as a playable landscape feature and informal seating. The landscaped gardens of the Listed Christ Church Greyfriars show the footprint of the former historic building and these will be enhanced and integrated into the design of the new public space. As well as being a place to meet and dwell and relax, the space will assist in the delivery of the biodiversity corridor between Bankside and the Barbican which will be part of a formal new Leisure Walk from Peckham to Epping Forest. The developed concept design increases the planning area from 425m2 to 1175m2 and improves the Urban Greening Factor from 0.073 to 0.202.