Transforming St John Street
Have your say on the St John Street public realm designs
Our public consultation on the St John Street public realm project ran from 4 November 2024 to 15 December 2024.
We are now reviewing the comments and feedback received. Updates will be posted on this website in due course. You can sign up to receive updates using the "register" link on the top right of this page.
As part of our efforts to create a cleaner, greener, and healthier borough we are excited to share our plans for transforming St John Street.
With more greening including plants, trees and sustainable drainage features, seating and reduced traffic volumes, the street will become a welcoming place for all.
On this page you can find out how you can give us your feedback on the proposals, by:
- reviewing the designs and completing our survey
- coming to one of our public events
About the St John Street project area
The St John Street project area, shown below, extends from the junction at Charterhouse Street to St John's Lane, including the widest portion of the street which was once the location of the Hicks Hall Sessions House. Historically the area, once the gateway into London, was bustling with movement and activity. Today, surrounded by vibrant local streets and businesses it remains a busy, lively place close to Farringdon Station with its 1.2 million monthly visitors as well as Charterhouse Square and Clerkenwell Green.
Following some initial community engagement in 2019, we have received further ideas from local businesses and residents, and have conducted our own monitoring of traffic in and around the area. We have developed some proposals for this area and are now seeking your views on the designs.
You have told us that:
- you would like to see pavements improved with more space created for people walking, wheeling and with buggies and mobility aids
- you want to see more pleasant, green public spaces and more places to stop and rest
- streets should be made safer with slower traffic and fewer vehicles
- it should be easier for people cycling in the area
We are listening to the feedback from local people and groups, and we are looking to prioritise the following improvements:
- creating a greener, more accessible and pleasant street environment for residents and local workers to enjoy
- making it easier for children to be able to travel safely through the area, and offering the opportunity to interact with the environment through play
- reducing through-traffic, reducing road danger and improving air quality
- enhancing the historic character of the street
- supporting local businesses to thrive
Our plans for transforming St John Street
The design for the space is shown in the image below - for more detailed images, and further information please review the document links on the right of the page, where you will find the background analysis conducted in preparing the scheme (Stage 2 pack) and the detailed present proposals (Stage 3 pack).
Our plans will create attractive, brand new green community spaces where local people and visitors can spend time and walk, wheel and cycle safely. New trees and planting will provide cooler and shadier spaces, enhance biodiversity and reduce flood risk. The plans will enhance the recently launched Green Link Walking route which runs down St Johns Lane, through St John Street and onwards through Grand Avenue and the City of London. The design includes a motor traffic filter at the Charterhouse Street and St John Street junction, making the junction safer and easier to use for people walking, wheeling and cycling, and allowing for the creation of wider pavements and more greening. For an explanation of traffic filters, please see the FAQ on the right hand side of the page.
The implementation of the traffic filter at the junction of Charterhouse Street and St John Street will mean that whilst all destinations will still be accessible by motor vehicle, some journeys will require different routes to those that are used at present. For more information, please review the "St John Street traffic access" document in the documents tab to the right.
Get involved
Complete our survey
The survey is now closed. Thank you to those who submitted their responses.
Attend a public event
- Join us on Tuesday 12 November from 6.30pm - 7:30pm to hear more and ask questions about the project and the design decisions
- A recording of the presentation from this initial meeting is available on this page.
In-person event #1 - Cowcross Gallery, Cowcross Street - Friday 15 November
- Come to review the designs in person and discuss your comments with officers on Friday 15 November from 4:30pm - 7:30pm at the Cowcross Gallery, 78 Cowcross Street
- please note that as capacity for this event will be limited, and if necessary, priority will be given to residents and businesses of the project area and neighbouring streets
In-person event #2 - Finsbury Library, 245 St John Street - Thursday 28 November
- Come to review the designs in person and discuss your comments with officers on Thursday 28 November between 5:30pm and 7:30pm at Finsbury Library, 245 St John Street, EC1V 4NB
Next steps
Our consultation proposals are based around what local people and businesses have told us you want to see improved in the area.
Once we have heard and reviewed your comments on our plans through the consultation, we will use your feedback to make any final design changes.
St John Street Leaflet
Online Event recording
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A recording of the St John Street Public realm webinar, presented by Head of Transport Projects at Islington Council, Mat Bonomi. The session was followed by a question and answer session - the questions and answers are provided in the "Documents" section
