UK’s first 15mph region for City of London

The City of London Corporation will make the Square Mile the first area in the UK with a 15mph speed limit, subject to government approval.

The decision follows a public consultation into 54 proposals unveiled by the City Corporation last year, which together sets a 25-year framework for its first long-term Transport Strategy. The plans have been developed to support the changing working, living and commuting habits across London.

City Corporation monitoring reveals that 90 per cent of all journeys made on the city’s streets are partially or entirely walked. Therefore, the new Strategy will prioritise the needs of people walking when delivering changes to streets, and make the most efficient use of street space by working to reduce motor traffic by 25 per cent by 2030, and by 50 per cent by 2044.

Data also shows that cycling has increased by 292 per cent since 1999, while the number of vehicles using the Square Mile’s streets has halved in the last 20 years. The Strategy will see the City Corporation enhancing its cycling offer, launching a new cycling network and improving the quality and accessibility of cycle hire facilities.

Alastair Moss, chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation, said: “The City of London is one of the most well-connected parts of the UK, with 15 Tube stations, seven Tube lines, eight mainline stations, multiple bus routes and a fast-evolving bicycle network. We are working tirelessly to support the 513,000 workers that commute to the Square Mile every day, and to deliver the forward-thinking City that Londoners want to see. These radical plans will ensure the continued success of not just the City, but wider London and the UK as a leading global business and cultural destination.”