Overview

We want your views on our proposals to transform roads in west London through four connected neighbourhood improvement schemes between Wood Lane and Notting Hill Gate.

The proposals are an important part of the Mayor's Transport Strategy. The proposals are guided by the Mayor's Healthy Streets Approach, which aims to encourage walking, cycling and public transport and make London greener, healthier and more pleasant. The proposals are also an important part of the Mayor's Walking and Cycling Action Plans. These complementary plans set out how we and London boroughs will work to increase the number of people walking and cycling, helping to address poor air quality and congestion, while improving infrastructure to make walking and cycling even easier, safer and more accessible for everyone.

These proposals would provide benefits for road users and communities in these areas, making it easier to cross busy roads, removing through traffic on some residential roads and offering a segregated space for people to cycle in west London. They would form part of London’s emerging cycling network and create a more appealing street environment for everyone to enjoy.

The proposals include:

New and upgraded pedestrian crossings

Public space improvements along the route to create more welcoming streets for people and communities to enjoy

Two-way segregated cycle track throughout

Changes to bus stop locations, with removal of some, and layout changes throughout, including new bus stop bypasses for cyclists

Making some side roads entry or exit only to help the safe and timely movement of traffic

Removal of some trees in Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park Avenue to accommodate the facilities with appropriate new trees planted nearby

Changes to parking and loading bays and hours of operation

The proposed changes presented in this consultation are not final. We welcome your views on our proposals and your feedback will inform how we progress the schemes.

The location

The neighbourhoods of Wood Lane, Shepherd’s Bush, Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate are not just thriving residential and local retail centres, they also serve as an important link between central and inner London. Improving walking and cycling within these neighbourhoods would increase connectivity to key attractions, new developments, transport hubs and the London wide cycling network. They were identified in our Strategic Cycling Analysis (published June 2017) as an important corridor for existing and potential cycling journeys and can facilitate wider improvements as part of the Healthy Streets approach.



Our designs have developed over time and in discussion with the relevant local authorities and other stakeholders. We have worked to balance the needs of everyone travelling in and around the neighbourhoods, within our core objective of improving conditions for people walking and cycling. We have carefully considered the different needs and features of each neighbourhood and have modelled the impact of our changes on different users.

The proposals



To review our proposals and see the relevant maps and illustrations for each of the four connected neighbourhood improvement schemes please use the links below.

Detailed proposals for Wood Lane neighbourhood

Detailed proposals for Shepherd’s Bush neighbourhood

Detailed proposals for Holland Park Avenue neighbourhood

Detailed proposals for Notting Hill Gate neighbourhood

If you would like to go straight to a particular topic please use the links below.

Why are we proposing this?

Why was this alignment chosen?

How would the scheme affect journey times

Environmental impacts

Healthy Streets

Equalities

Public exhibitions

Have your say

An artist’s impression of the proposals, looking north along Wood Lane from Wood Lane tube station

Why are we proposing this?

The proposed improvements are designed to help us meet the target set out in the Mayor's Transport Strategy of changing the way people choose to travel so that 80 per cent of all London trips are made by foot, bicycle or public transport by 2041, up from 64 per cent today. Changing how space is allocated to different road users throughout London is an important way of helping more people travel sustainably.

Wood Lane, Shepherd’s Bush and Notting Hill Gate have some of the highest concentration of pedestrians in the city. In addition, over 2000 trips are already being made daily by people who cycle on some of the streets where improvements are proposed. Across London, there are now more than 670,000 cycle trips a day, an increase of over 130 per cent since 2000, making cycling a major mode of transport in the capital.

These proposals would connect to walking and cycling improvements currently in construction between Acton and Wood Lane, which were consulted on in 2016 as part of an extension to the East-West Cycle Superhighway between Paddington and Acton via the Westway.

Why was this alignment chosen?

The selection of Wood Lane was the result of a detailed analysis of the potential for new cycle routes in West London, identifying opportunities to improve the road network by encouraging walking and cycling, and connecting to existing cycle routes.

In response to issues raised during consultation on our initial plans to extend the East-West Cycle Superhighway to Acton along A40 Westway, we decided not to proceed with the proposed alignment from Wood Lane to Paddington, as concerns were highlighted regarding the suitability of the elevated section of A40 Westway as a cycle route. These included difficulties accessing and exiting the elevated route, potentially unpleasant cycling conditions (noise, spray, air pollution), and the cost of adapting the structure. The consultation, however, did show strong support for protected cycle facilities in West London that connect existing cycle routes and open up new areas to cyclists and pedestrians, so we decided to progress with a new cycle route linking Acton to Wood Lane along the A40.

Our Strategic Cycling Analysis (published June 2017) identified corridors with high existing and potential demand for cycling in West London, from which a number of possible alternative alignments were identified.

Harrow Road Alignment (A404) - Willesden Junction to Paddington Scrubs Lane/Wood Lane Alignment (A219) – Willesden to Fulham Uxbridge Road Alignment (A402/A4020) - Ealing Broadway to Notting Hill Gate Hammersmith Road Alignment (A315) - Brentford to Kensington Olympia (since progressed as Cycleway 9) A ‘Combined Alignment’ which combined the original outer section of East-West Cycle Superhighway Phase 2 (Acton to Wood Lane), the central section of the Scrubs Lane/Wood Lane alignment (Wood Lane to Shepherd’s Bush) and the inner section of the Uxbridge Road Alignment (Shepherd’s Bush to Notting Hill Gate)

Alternative routes near the Westway were also considered, however these would not allow for the kind of infrastructure, cyclist volumes and safety benefits that we intend to deliver.

Following a detailed assessment of the alternative routes the Combined Alignment was recommended and taken forward as the preferred design. This alignment provides better cycling connectivity and alignment with the Healthy Streets principles. It offers improved links to Old Oak Common growth area and multiple large scale residential developments along the A40, and directly passes a number of tube stations, including the major interchange hub at Wood Lane/White City and other key destinations. Our Strategic Cycling Analysis identified an alignment along Notting Hill Gate, Holland Park Avenue and Shepherd’s Bush Green as a key potential corridor for cycling. Continuing the route along Wood Lane would therefore provide a single safe, dedicated cycle facility between Acton and Notting Hill Gate. These advantages offered by the Combined Alignment make it a more desirable option than the other alignments.

Our Strategic Cycling Analysis has also identified potential north-south cycle routes in West London which would link directly to Wood Lane. As both Wood Lane itself and nearby areas such as Old Oak Common are undergoing significant development and regeneration, the demand for improved pedestrian and cycle facilities and dedicated routes between new town centres and public transport hubs in West London will greatly increase. There is also potential to provide a direct link to the proposed east-west cycle route between Brentford and Kensington Olympia at Hammersmith.

Improving safety for people who want to walk and cycle

Roads through these neighbourhoods are currently dominated by motor traffic and can be intimidating and unpleasant places to walk and cycle. These proposals would provide a safer and more pleasant environment for walking and cycling and would improve connections between local areas and the heart of town centres in west London.

By giving people space and time to cycle through the area more easily, and by providing improved crossing facilities for pedestrians, we can encourage more people to use these healthy and sustainable forms of transport while keeping other traffic moving. These improvements would help to make these streets more welcoming for walking, cycling and public transport, so both individuals and the community as a whole can benefit.

Part of London’s growing cycle network

The four connected neighbourhood schemes would provide a continuous, largely-segregated cycle route between Wood Lane and Notting Hill Gate, via Shepherd’s Bush Green and Holland Park Avenue. Cyclists currently use sections of the proposed route where there are no segregated facilities for them. Many journeys currently made in the area by car could be made by foot or by bike.

At the western end the proposals would connect with our improvements between Acton and Wood Lane that are currently being constructed.

They would also intersect with a proposed North/South cycle route through Holland Park and Norland Square, providing upgraded walking and cycling connections between Kensington High Street and the cycle route known as Quietway 2 in Notting Hill. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are developing these proposals. The route would begin at Melbury Road, pass along Abbotsbury Road and Holland Park, cross Holland Park Avenue into Norland Square, then run north via local roads up to Blenheim Crescent where it would join Quietway 2. The Council will shortly be consulting on these proposals and details will be available at www.rbkc.gov.uk/cyclerouteproposals.

Facilitating and encouraging active travel in west London

We want to make it easier for all people in west London to use sustainable travel and lead active lifestyles. We also want to make the streets within the scheme healthier, safer and more welcoming places for everyone. The proposals form part of the Mayor of London’s plan for Healthy Streets.

Currently, only 34 per cent of Londoners take 20 minutes of physical activity on any given day. Building activity into everday journeys, through walking and cycling, is an easy way to increase activity levels which could achieve significant health benefits. The new cycle facilities aim to encourage people who would like to cycle, but currently feel unable to do so.

A network of cycle routes exists in north, south and east London, but fewer in west London. Our proposals would bring a high-quality cycle facility to west London, linking town centres in Wood Lane, Shepherd’s Bush, Holland Park and Notting Hill Gate.

Connecting and improving town centres

Our proposals would help connect town centres from Wood Lane through Shepherd’s Bush, Holland Park and Notting Hill Gate, linking important amenities and facilities in the heart of these town centres, and making them more pleasant places to live, work, shop and spend time.

To make it easier to cross busy roads here, we would create 15 new pedestrian crossings and upgrade over 20 others. This would be supported by other improvements to the street environment, including decluttering the pavement, improving pavement materials and ensuring there are places to stop and shelter. As well as enabling more Londoners to walk and cycle more often, these proposals would help to create more welcoming streets.

How would these proposals affect journey times?

Transforming road layouts is not without impacts, and there are difficult choices to be made in determining the layout for roads. For example, these changes could mean that some journeys through this area may take longer.

We have carried out detailed traffic modelling on the proposals to understand how our proposals might affect journey times for general traffic, buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

Despite the sophistication of our traffic and reassignment models, all traffic modelling is only ever indicative; it is intended to give an idea of where the impacts of changes in journeys are most likely to be felt. It assumes that drivers have perfect knowledge of the network and will always choose the quickest route available.

Traffic modelling has been carried out to study the traffic impacts of the scheme at the busiest times of the day, and results are presented for both the morning and evening peak hours. We would actively monitor and manage the road network following implementation to ensure impacts were balanced.

To understand the impacts, we have assessed how London's roads would operate in 2021, considering population growth, committed developments and other road improvements. We then tested how London's roads would operate in 2021 with the changes proposed as part of this scheme. This allows us to isolate the predicted impacts of this proposed scheme from other changes which are not part of this consultation.

Traffic reassignment in London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham – Wood Lane and Shepherd Bush Green Neighbourhoods

Due to road capacity reductions at the junction of Uxbridge Road with Holland Park roundabout, less traffic is predicted to travel around Shepherd Bush Green and Holland Park Roundabout under our proposals. This is expected to result in some vehicles taking alternative routes including some additional traffic travelling northbound on Wood Lane and eastbound on Ariel Way.

Traffic reassignment in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea – Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate Neighbourhoods.

The proposed change to road layout along Holland Park Avenue and Notting Hill Gate as well as Ladbroke Terrace becoming northbound only is predicted to lead to some traffic taking alternative routes. Some roads are predicted to see an increase in traffic because of our proposals, while other roads are predicted to see a reduction in traffic volumes. Traffic from the Paddington area and further east is also predicted to take alternative routes such as the A40 (westbound).

Due to the proposed changes at Holland Park West (entry only) and Holland Park East (exit only) north and southbound traffic would switch between these two approaches, but it is expected that overall number of vehicles using these roads would remain broadly the same.

Information on predicted changes to journey times for general traffic, buses, cyclists and pedestrians can be found here.

If you have any questions or clarifications with regards our traffic modelling please email trafficmodelling@tfl.gov.uk for more information.

Changes to parking and loading

Our proposals include changes to parking and loading bays and their hours of operation across the proposed schemes. During the consultation period we will contact premises that we think could be affected. If you think the proposals could affect you or your business, please contact us to let us know. We encourage you to discuss these proposals with your suppliers.

Please click on the detailed proposals for each neighbourhood to find out details of the proposed changes to parking, waiting and loading in each area.

Bus impacts

Our proposals include changes that would affect bus users. Some bus stops would be relocated or removed, which could result in increased distances to walk to or from stops for some people. For example two westbound bus stops would be removed on Holland Park Avenue, and there would be a new westbound bus stop opposite Holland Park tube station. Bus stop bypasses for cyclists would be introduced throughout the scheme, where pedestrians must cross the cycle track to get between the pavement and the bus stop. These would be accessible by zebra crossings from the pavement over the cycle track, and provide sufficient space for passengers waiting, boarding and alighting, including deployment of wheelchair ramps. There would also be a mixture of benefits and negative impacts on bus journey times.

Please click on each neighbourhood to find out details of the proposed changes to buses in each area.

Environmental impacts

Although not a traffic generating scheme, our proposals would change how traffic moves around the area, which may result in localised changes to air quality and noise levels.

Environmental surveys and modelling are taking place as part of our ongoing evaluation of these proposals.

Our proposals aim to improve the quality of life in the area by:

Reducing the dominance of traffic

Improving pedestrian crossings and cycle facilities, to encourage people to walk and cycle through the area

Protecting bus journey times, to encourage people to use public transport

Air pollution is one of the most significant challenges facing London, affecting the health of all Londoners. As part of the plans for new measures to tackle London’s current poor air quality, we introduced the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on 8 April 2019. In 2021 this will be expanded to include the inner London area bounded by the North and South Circular roads.



A number of other schemes to improve London's air quality are planned including taking steps to reduce air pollution from our bus fleet, reducing emissions from taxis and private hire vehicles, setting up five ‘Low Emission Neighbourhoods’ and expanding the electric vehicle charging network, making it simpler to use. We are investing to make London’s streets healthy, safe and attractive places to walk and cycle. Enabling more journeys to be made on foot or by bike can help reduce private vehicle use and associated emissions. See here for more information on how we are creating Healthy Streets.



The changes proposed in this scheme would unavoidably involve the removal of some trees from the central reservation in Notting Hill Gate as it is not possible to fit a two way cycle track and retain these. At Holland Park Avenue two mature trees would need to be removed. We have tried to avoid the need for this however it is not possible to deliver a two way cycle track without either removing the two trees or banning a right turn onto Ladbroke Grove which would increase traffic journey times. In both neighbourhoods we would plant appropriate new trees in nearby areas to replace those removed.



Healthy Streets checks



The changes proposed in this scheme are part of our commitment to deliver the Healthy Streets Approach. We are taking this approach to create a vibrant, successful city where the streets are welcoming to all and everyone can live active, healthy lives. The streets within this scheme and the proposed changes have been assessed by our designers against ten Healthy Streets Indicators using our Healthy Streets Check for Designers tool. This tool assesses the layout of streets against thirty one measures which produce an overall Healthy Streets Check score out of 100. We use infographics to show the current score for the streets within this scheme and potential scores based on our proposed changes.

The results of this assessment for the Wood Lane to Notting Hill Gate proposals can be found below.

Wood Lane (PDF 782KB)

Shepherd's Bush (PDF 353B)

Holland Park Avenue (PDF 715KB)

Notting Hill Gate (PDF 949KB)

The Healthy Streets Check for Designers scores show significant overall uplifts throughout the neighbourhoods of the scheme. However, there are a number of locations where certain Healthy Street Indicators show lower “after” scores than in the “before” situation. The lower scores are attributed to the removal of trees within the given location. Tree cover contributes to shade from sunshine and protection from rain and also can help improve clean air and noise conditions. The existing tree stock is valued highly in London and the Healthy Streets Check for Designers harshly penalises the removal of any trees, regardless of the reason for removal. The removal of trees has been carefully considered and only proposed where absolutely necessary to facilitate the implementation of the scheme.

The removal of mature trees on Wood Lane (see plan location 1), Holland Park Avenue (see plan location 8) and Notting Hill Gate (see plan location 9) is required to accommodate the wider benefits as shown by improvements to other indicators. These benefits include better conditions for people walking and cycling, making it easier to cross the street and to make people feel relaxed and safe.

Where trees have been removed, this has resulted in some lower scores for the ‘Shade and shelter’ indicator. The removal of trees is planned to be offset by the planting of new trees and other greening improvements, however, these changes do not recover the loss in scoring in terms of the Healthy Streets Check for Designers. The new trees and greening improvements are not shown on the consultation materials at this stage as further investigations are needed to confirm the details and locations.

If you would like to know more about the Healthy Streets Check for Designers please visit our website. If you have any questions about our Healthy Streets Approach, please write to us at consultations@tfl.gov.uk.



Equalities



We are subject to the general public sector equality duty set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, which requires us to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. As part of our decision-making process on proposals for new schemes, we have had due regard to any impacts on those with protected characteristics and the need to ensure their interests are taken into account.



In considering the design of our streets, we closely consider the needs of all users throughout the design process. As this scheme is a significant infrastructure project we:

Have completed a draft Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) at the outset of the project, to review potential impacts on equality target groups, including disabled people

Will carry out public consultations, including targeted engagement with user groups

Will continue to ensure we comply with established guidance – such as the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges – which includes detailed requirements for disabled people

The draft EqIA carried out on these proposals shows positive impacts for people cycling from black and ethnic minority groups, females, disabled people, and people under 25 and over 65 years of age. Positive impacts have also been identified for disabled pedestrians or people walking with restricted mobility, as the scheme proposes a number of improvements to pedestrian facilities including enhanced crossing facilities, increased pavement widths and new pedestrian crossings.



Some negative impacts have been identified where we are proposing to remove or relocate bus stops, or to install bus stop bypasses, where pedestrians must cross the cycle track to get between the pavement and the bus stop. We recently agreed therefore, that at all bus stop bypasses we would include zebra crossings, which would include tactile paving and be raised to footway level to create a flush surface. Our research has found that bus stop bypasses are safe for all road users, including those with protected characteristics. Click here for more information on bus stop bypasses.



Some negative impacts have also been identified where some pavements are proposed to be cut back, however we have ensured that they are appropriate for number of pedestrians in the area and that they allow two wheelchair users to pass safely. We also propose shared space in two short sections on the route, and at new toucan crossings, appropriate signage and paving materials would be included here to avoid potential conflicts. The proposed removal of one lane of traffic in some sections and the removal of some parking, loading and taxi bays may have an impact on car-dependent people. We propose to include new bays in the design where possible. The draft Equality Impact Assessment will be kept under review and updated to reflect any material changes to the proposals.



Draft Equality Impact Assessment - Wood Lane to Notting Hill Gate improvements (PDF 681KB)

Public exhibitions

We will be holding four public drop-in sessions where you can view the proposals, speak to members of the project team and ask questions.

St George's Church, Aubrey Walk, London W8 7JH - Monday 13 May 2019 (17:30 - 21:00)

St George's Church, Aubrey Walk, London W8 7JH - Tuesday 28 May 2019 (13:00 - 17:00)

The Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, London W12 8LJ - Wednesday 5 June 2019 (17:00 - 21:00)

The Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, London W12 8LJ - Saturday 8 June 2019 (11:00 - 15:00)

We will also be handing out leaflets at four sessions at Tube stations. Please feel free to stop and have a chat with the team.

Wood Lane and Notting Hill Tube stations - Tuesday 14 May 2019 (16:00 - 19:00)

Shepherd's Bush and Holland Park Tube stations - Thursday 23 May 2019 (16:00 - 19:00)

We would like to know what you think about our proposals.

Please give us your views by completing the online survey below by Sunday 16 June 2019. Please note we have extended the closing date from Wednesday 12 June 2019.

Alternatively, you can:

Email us at consultations@tfl.gov.uk

or write to us at FREEPOST TFL CONSULTATIONS (Wood Lane to Notting Hill Gate)

(Wood Lane to Notting Hill Gate) Call us on 0343 222 1155 (service and network charges apply. Visit tfl.gov.uk/terms for details)

You can also use these contact details to request paper copies of the consultation materials, copies in Braille, large text or another language, and a response form.

Next Steps