Brunswick Square walking and cycling improvements underway
Camden Council has started works to improve walking, cycling and the public realm in the Brunswick Square area.
“Brunswick Square is an important place for many people, whether Bloomsbury residents or visitors, as they make their way to their homes, places of work, or shops or entertainment in the area.
“The existing road layout creates a series of barriers for both walking and cycling. The new changes will make it much easier to get around by foot and provide a more seamless link for cyclists, helping to reduce reliance on cars. The public space will also be transformed through the provision of new paving, trees and greening, seating and lighting.”
A public consultation provided valuable feedback on the scheme, which was developed and designed by Camden Council and will be delivered with funding provided by Transport for London (TfL) from its Cycleway programme.
“Camden Council wants to encourage people to switch to sustainable and healthy forms of travel. We aim to reduce the impact of motor traffic on the environment and to improve air quality. We also want to ensure we respond to the recommendations of the Camden Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Crisis, which included creating new car-free zone and cycle lanes.”
The completed scheme will form part of a new Cycleway (C41) which would be initially signed from the Judd Street/ Hunter Street junction through Brunswick Square, Lambs Conduit Street and Red Lion Street ending at High Holborn. TfL and Camden will also be considering extending this to Euston station. The scheme will also include provision of three new zebra crossings and removal of the roundabout at Brunswick Square where it joins with Hunter Street and Bernard Street.
These works will further deliver the council’s transport strategy, which seeks to encourage sustainable and active modes of transport and reduce impacts of motor traffic on the environment, helping address poor air quality.
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said:
“Making our streets more welcoming for people walking and cycling is absolutely essential to tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the capital, including poor air quality and our health.
I’m really pleased that work is set to begin at Brunswick Square and look forward to seeing the difference the changes will make to thousands of people in the area every day.”
Currently, more than 6,000 people cycle and 26,000 people walk through the square each weekday. The improvements will make these journeys easier and enable even more people to get around central London by bike and on foot. Increasing the number of walking and cycling journeys in the capital is a key part of the Council’s Transport Strategy (CTS) as well as the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and is vital for cleaning up London’s air, boosting health and cutting congestion.