The City of London will become home to the UK’s first 24/7 zero emission street, part of broader plans to improve the air quality in the capital’s financial centre.
The City of London Corporation, which governs the Square Mile, has backed plans to restrict Beech Street to zero emission vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians by spring 2020. The traffic order will run for up to 18 months, during which time air quality will be reviewed. After that, the changes may be made permanent.
Much of Beech Street runs under the Barbican Estate. Due to its enclosure, the street experiences high levels of air pollution, the corporation said.
The initiative is pending final approval from Transport for London. Exceptions to the order will be made for emergency vehicles, those accessing car parks off Beech Street, bin lorries and deliveries.
Oliver Sells, chair of the corporation’s Streets and Walkways Sub-Committee, said: “This is a groundbreaking scheme by the City of London Corporation. It will bring substantial health benefits to those who live and work in the Barbican area, and will also help reduce noise pollution.
“The experimental scheme will be enforced using the latest in smart camera technology, and I hope it will be the first of many other schemes like this.”
The corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee has backed plans to turn parts of the City into zero emission zones by 2022. The purchase of diesel vehicles has been banned from the corporation’s own vehicle fleet.
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