Cabinet Member Report
Decision Maker:
Cabinet Member for City Management, Transport &
Environment
Date:
27 March 2013
Classification:
For General Release
Title:
Brewer Street/Peter Street Public Realm
Improvements – along the Rupert Street/Berwick
Street Walking Corridor
Wards Affected:
West End
Key Decision:
This is a Key Decision which has been included in
the List of Executive Decisions
Financial Summary:
The estimated cost to implement the scheme as
outlined in this report is £269,000 and will be funded
by Transport for London
Report of:
Strategic Director Built Environment
City Commissioner of Transportation
1.
Executive Summary
1.1
This report presents proposals to undertake public realm improvements in Peter
Street and Brewer Street in Soho. It is seeking approval to implement the
scheme, which is to be funded by Transport for London (TfL) through the Local
Implementation Plan (LIP). It is also seeking approval for capital expenditure of
£269,000 necessary to implement this scheme.
1.2
The scheme builds on improvements already being implemented to the surface
on Rupert Street and will provide a step-free environment between the northern
end of Rupert Street and the southern end of Berwick Street through the
installation of raised crossing points in both Peter Street and Brewer Street. It is
also proposed to implement footway and carriageway improvements along
extents of Peter Street.
2.
Recommendations
i.
That the responses to public consultation set out in Appendix B to this report be
considered and officers’ comments endorsed
ii.
That approval be given to proceed to the final stages of detailed design and
implementation of the public realm improvements shown on drawing 5123-RS-I999-01 attached as Appendix A.
iii.
That approval be given for the capital expenditure of £269,000 as set out in
paragraph 5 necessary to design and implement the proposals, which are being
fully funded by TfL.
iv.
That authority be delegated to the City Commissioner of Transportation to
approve minor modifications to the scheme should they be necessary in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for City Management, Transport and
Environment.
3.
Reasons for Decision
3.1
Since the adoption of the Soho Action Plan in 2007, the City Council has been
working closely with local stakeholders to identify priorities for public realm
improvement in Soho. Rupert Street and Peter Street were both identified locally
as high priority for improvements with the walking route through Rupert Street
and Berwick Street to Oxford Street considered an important one in terms of
encouraging footfall through Soho’s markets.
3.2
The proposed scheme will create a safer and more accessible walking route, by
providing a step-free environment for movement between the southern end of
Berwick Street and the northern end of Rupert Street.
3.3
In February 2013, worked started to relay all the granite setts on Rupert Street as
the first part of this project to improve the street environment for pedestrians and
on a market street along the route. The improvements proposed in this report
are the next part of the project.
4.
Background, including Policy Context and details of the scheme
Soho Action Plan
4.1
The Soho Action Plan was adopted in 2007. In relation to the public realm it
identified key areas of regeneration (such as the area around and including
Berwick Street market), but also recognised the need for a more holistic
approach to the public realm and adopted a number of actions which are relevant
to investigation of pedestrian priority and general area accessibility including:
Action 13: Undertake an audit of the street scene in order to establish a
programme of streetscape improvements with local partnership funding including
review and rationalise street furniture and signage
4.2
In partnership with local stakeholders during 2010, the City Commissioner of
Transportation carried out a visit to Soho with local stakeholders, which created a
list of priority streets for improvement. Rupert Street and Peter Street were
considered high priorities and as funding has been made available through the
Local Implementation Plan, the walking route from Shaftesbury Avenue to Oxford
Street has been prioritised.
4.3
The whole project on this route includes:
a) Completely lift and relay the granite setts on Rupert Street to make it an even
and inviting surface to walk on.
b) Provide a raised crossing point on Brewer Street between Rupert Street and
Walker’s Court.
c) Provide a raised crossing point on the other side of Walker’s Court over Peter
Street and into Berwick Street.
d) Repave and resurface Peter Street to make it more pedestrian friendly to
those entering the market from Wardour Street, and those visiting the college
at the end of Peter Street (Westminster Kingsway college is investing in
providing disability access to the upper floors of its Victorian building).
Details of the proposed improvements
4.4
The improvements which are the subject of this report cover b) to d) above and
are detailed on a plan at Appendix A. Transerv started improvements a) in
February 2013, and the work is due to be completed in May 2013.
4.5
Work to improve the next part of the route from Rupert Street to Berwick Street
includes:




Provision of a raised crossing point over Brewer Street from Rupert Street
to Walker’s Court to provide step free access into Walker’s Court. This will
be constructed in asphalt.
Provision of a raised crossing point over Peter Street from Walker’s Court to
Berwick Street to provide step free access into Berwick Street Market from
Walker’s Court. This will be constructed in asphalt.
Renewal of the carriageway in Peter Street;
Renewal of the footway paving for the extent of Peter Street between its
junctions with Wardour Street and Berwick Street;

Localised improvements to the footway paving along the western extent of
Peter Street where required.
Programme for Implementation
4.6
The work will be carried out by the City Council’s retained provider for public
realm works, West One. Subject to approval the scheme will be implemented
between April 2013 and August 2013.
5.
Financial Implications
5.1
The total estimated cost of the works is £269,000 including all stages of the
design and implementation work and provision for risk and contingency. £17,300
has already been spent on initial design work and this expenditure was
authorised under a separate delegated authority in August 2012.
5.2
The scheme is being funded 100% from the City Council’s TfL Local
Implementation Plan funding for Neighbourhoods and Corridors. £69,000 is
funding from 2012/13 budgets and £200,000 from 2013/14 budgets. The scheme
appears in the Council’s capital programme, but it has no impact on City Council
budgets.
5.3
There are no immediate revenue implications arising from this report; however
elements of the scheme such as resurfacing of the carriageway in Peter Street
means that carriageway will be in pristine condition and maintenance will mainly
relate to road markings and gully cleansing.
6.
Legal Implications
6.1
The Council carries out improvements to the public realm using its powers under
the Highways Act 1980 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
7.
Consultation
7.1
A consultation exercise involving Ward Councillors, the Local Amenity Society,
emergency services and other stakeholders was carried out during December
2012. Details of the consultation list, responses and how comments have been
responded to are attached in Appendix B.
7.2
No objections to the scheme were received and the project management team
remain in touch with the City Management Delivery Unit which oversees Rupert
Street and Berwick Street markets.
8.
Business Plan Implications
8.1
This report outlines proposals to improve the public realm on the walking route
between Shaftesbury Avenue and Oxford Street and delivers the Leaders ‘Better
City Better Lives’ objectives for 2013/14 under the theme “A more connected
City” and the key priority to “provide sustainable investment on our
infrastructure”.
8.2
The scheme also delivers against the Built Environment Business Plan priority to
make Westminster ‘A distinctive and sustainable destination of choice for
international investment’ by improvement of the public realm.
9.
Conclusions
9.1
Following the successful programme of public realm enhancement before the
Olympics, the Council continues to attract investment from the public and private
sector to continue improving our public realm. This scheme delivers
improvements for the second phase of the Shaftesbury Avenue to Oxford Street
walking corridor; the first phase being the improvements currently on site in
Rupert Street.
9.2
The design of the scheme will provide a clear and accessible walking route
through the centre of Soho and through the areas two street markets. It is hoped
that, together with investment into Berwick Street and Rupert Street during this
financial year, this scheme will improve the footfall and visibility of this part of
Soho adding to Berwick Street’s appeal as Soho’s local high street and a
destination in its own right.
If you have any queries about this Report or wish to inspect any of the
Background Papers please contact: Lydia Clarkson on 020 7641 8553;
lclarkson@westminster.gov.uk or Anju Banga – 0207 641 2666;
abanga@westminster.gov.uk
BACKGROUND PAPERS
Soho Action Plan, adopted June 2007
Delegated Authority report to the City Commissioner of Transportation for Rupert Street
North improvements – October 2012
Delegated Authority Report to the Operational Director of the City Planning Delivery Unit
– Rupert Street to Berwick Street walking corridor – August 2012
For completion by the Cabinet Member for City Management, Transport &
Environment.
Declaration of Interest
I have <no interest to declare / to declare an interest> in respect of this report
Signed:
NAME:
Date:
Councillor Ed Argar
State nature of interest if any …………………………………………………………..……
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(N.B: If you have an interest you should seek advice as to whether it is appropriate to make a decision in
relation to this matter)
For the reasons set out above, I agree the recommendation(s) in the report entitled
Brewer Street/Peter Street Public Realm Improvements – along the Rupert
Street/Berwick Street Walking Corridor and reject any alternative options which are
referred to but not recommended.
Signed ………………………………………………
Cabinet Member for City Management, Transport & Environment.
Date …………………………………………………
For Ward Specific Reports Only
In reaching this decision I have given due regard to any representations made by
relevant Ward Members.
Signed……………………………………………….
Cabinet Member for City Management, Transport & Environment
Date…………………………………………………
If you have any additional comment which you would want actioned in connection with
your decision you should discuss this with the report author and then set out your
comment below before the report and this pro-forma is returned to the Secretariat for
processing.
Additional comment: …………………………………….……………………………………
……………………………………………………………………..……………………………
…………………………………………………………………….…………………………….
If you do not wish to approve the recommendations, or wish to make an alternative
decision, it is important that you consult the report author, the Head of Legal and
Democratic Services, the Chief Operating Officer and, if there are staffing implications,
the Director of Human Resources (or their representatives) so that (1) you can be made
aware of any further relevant considerations that you should take into account before
making the decision and (2) your reasons for the decision can be properly identified and
recorded, as required by law.
Note to Cabinet Member: Your decision will now be published and copied to the
Members of the relevant Policy & Scrutiny Committee. If the decision falls within the
criteria for call-in, it will not be implemented until five working days have elapsed from
publication to allow the Policy and Scrutiny Committee to decide whether it wishes to
call the matter in.
Appendix A – Plan of works – Drawing number - 5123-RS-I-999-01
(As attached)
Appendix B – Section 6 Consultation Results
(As attached)