Burrell Foley Fischer are delighted to see that Westminster City Council have announced that from Sunday 22nd August the Strand will become a Pedestrian/Cycle zone.
Working with SAVE Britain’s Heritage in 2015, at the time of the public furore over the proposed demolition by King’s College of 154-158 the Strand in the Conservation Area, Burrell Foley Fischer was first to identify an opportunity to create a magnificent new piece of public realm for the capital halfway along the great processional, ‘coronation route’ to and from Westminster and Buckingham Palace to St Paul’s Cathedral and the City
John Burrell prepared a publication for SAVE “Save our Strand” analysing the history and future potential of this ancient piece of city and the importance of retaining and sympathetically adapting, rather than demolishing the buildings. He proposed turning the whole of the south of the Aldwych into an active pedestrian friendly piazza to act as an animated forum and public entrance space for Kings College and Courtauld students to use, that would also link them more coherently with Somerset House. His forecast was that it could be even more effective and extraordinary than the closing of the road in front of the National Gallery.
By advocating and demonstrating the reuse of the very fine threatened facades and buildings and opposing their demolition he showed how they could remain as an active backdrop to sustain continuity of street life. He also suggested, as a bonus, that :
“Pedestrianising this part of the Strand will mean that Gibbs’s wonderful church, St Mary-le-Strand is no longer marooned on a traffic island, but becomes the focal point of a splendid new public space. Both Somerset House and King’s College will gain a spacious new setting - the most beautiful new public realm in the capital for years.”
Last year, after an extensive co-design process with over 70 stakeholders, Westminster City Council revealed plans for ‘a new destination for London’.
“The proposal converts busy roadways into a major new public space at the Strand and an enhanced pedestrian experience across the Aldwych, including new crossings, wider footways and a pocket park. Strand Aldwych aims to bring the inside out – celebrating the wealth of cultural and educational offer in the area, whilst providing a new green oasis in central London to relax, play and come together.”
Following the closure later this month, the Council have planned a three-week celebration of activities along the Strand to mark the removal of traffic and launch the space before construction of the permanent redesign commences. Further details can be found here.
With the traffic removed, St Mary-le-Strand will now be accessible and pedestrian-friendly to all for music events, as the superb pioneering, high quality concerts organised by SAVE in the church have already proved.