Transforming St John Street

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We are transforming St John Street

We are implementing the St John Street public space scheme from 1 September 2025, as part of Islington Council’s mission to create greener, healthier, and more welcoming streets, where people can come together and communities can thrive.

The council first announced its intention to improve St John Street in 2019, and since then we have engaged local residents and businesses and developed designs which reflect local people’s feedback.

Following the consultation which ran in late 2024, we have decided to implement the project, with some changes following feedback gathered during the consultation.

Phased construction will start in early September 2025 and we expect the construction to last approximately 6 months. We'll notify affected residents and businesses ahead of construction, and will work to keep any disruption to a minimum. We will keep local people updated on the access changes that are required as the scheme progresses. You can also check this page for updates.

Traffic restrictions and parking suspensions

To carry out these major works, we will need to restrict certain traffic movements. During these restrictions, access will be maintained to all addresses, and alternate routes will be signed. For more details on the route changes, please see the diversion route maps to the right.

The delivery of the project requires a phased implementation of traffic changes:

  • Starting from 1 September 2025, there will be no access travelling southbound from St John Street to Charterhouse Street or to St John’s Lane. Advanced warning signs will alert motorists of the closure. Northbound access will be maintaned.

Further changes will be required as work progresses, and information on subsequent road closures and route changes will be made available in due course as the project progresses.

For up-to-date information on the current project phases please check this page, and also visit our contractor’s website for up-to-date information on diversions: www.marlboroughhighways.co.uk/location/st-john-street

We will need to suspend a number of parking bays within and adjacent to the work area, and these are shown in Figure 2 on page 4 of the August 2025 works notification letter. These bays will be suspended for the duration of the works – please see notices on the street during the works for the latest information on parking suspensions.

It is expected that all works requiring temporary traffic management and pedestrian diversions will be complete by the end of February 2026. Please note that we will work to the above time-frame and arrangements as closely as possible, but this may be subject to change.

Scheme design

Project Background

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.


A map of the St John Street project area in context - the map shows the area from Clerkenwell Road and Old Street in the north, to Smithfield market in the south. The project area is shaded in green, and covers the area from the junction with Cowcross Street to just north of St JOhn's Lane on St John Street


What you have told us through the project

Since the project was announced in February 2020, the council has been listening to feedback from residents in the area.

In 2019 we heard what local people had to say about issues in the area and what they would like the project to bring to the area, through discussion with local residents and businesses and survey data gathered at a “car-free day” on the street.

During the initial engagement for the project, you 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

In response to the feedback from local people and groups, we developed proposals 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

Between November and December 2024 we consulted publicly on a set of final draft proposals which were displayed both online and at Finsbury Library. Again, we received feedback through a survey, public workshops and talking to local businesses.

We have also received comments sent via email to the project team at: stjohnstreet@islington.gov.uk.

Your feedback to our consultation in late 2024

Most people who responded to our consultation survey in November-December said they agreed that the objectives of the project would be positive for the area and people's health and wellbeing in response to a range of statements. Some examples of these statements and your responses are:

"The proposed design will..."Definitely agreeAgreeNeitherDisagreeDefinitely disagree
...create a pleasant, new public space that is accessible to all60%15%4%7%14%
...make it easier to walk and wheel in the area60%12%9%8%11%
...make it safer to cycle in the area51%14%15%11%9%
...benefit the area's economy49%12%16%7%16%
...reflect the area's cultural heritage38%19%19%10%14%
...improve biodiversity in the area54%15%16%6%9%


Some of the most common comments we received in support of our consultation proposals were:

  • overall support for the scheme
  • support due to improved safety for people walking, wheeling and cycling
  • support for improving biodiversity and additional greening

Some of the most common comments we received expressing concerns about our consultation proposals were:

  • Concerns about the scheme as a whole and value for money
  • Concerns about the effect of Fabric nightclub
  • traffic fIltering may increase congestion on nearby roads

You can see:

What changes are we making in response to your consultation feedback?

In response to your feedback we will be:

  • making use of high quality paving materials throughout the area
  • extending the length of the planned loading bay on St John Street to make sure it supports businesses
  • extending and improving the design elements relating to the history of the area, including more detail on bespoke seating and heritage features
  • providing space for ambulances to drive through the traffic restriction on Charterhouse Street
  • adjusting the pedestrian crossing on Charterhouse Street to improve accessibility.

How you can get in touch

If you have any questions about the project, or you need this information in another language, a reading format such as Braille, large print or Easy Read, or a printed paper copy of these webpages, you can:

We will keep local people updated as the scheme progresses. You can also check this page for updates.

We are transforming St John Street

We are implementing the St John Street public space scheme from 1 September 2025, as part of Islington Council’s mission to create greener, healthier, and more welcoming streets, where people can come together and communities can thrive.

The council first announced its intention to improve St John Street in 2019, and since then we have engaged local residents and businesses and developed designs which reflect local people’s feedback.

Following the consultation which ran in late 2024, we have decided to implement the project, with some changes following feedback gathered during the consultation.

Phased construction will start in early September 2025 and we expect the construction to last approximately 6 months. We'll notify affected residents and businesses ahead of construction, and will work to keep any disruption to a minimum. We will keep local people updated on the access changes that are required as the scheme progresses. You can also check this page for updates.

Traffic restrictions and parking suspensions

To carry out these major works, we will need to restrict certain traffic movements. During these restrictions, access will be maintained to all addresses, and alternate routes will be signed. For more details on the route changes, please see the diversion route maps to the right.

The delivery of the project requires a phased implementation of traffic changes:

  • Starting from 1 September 2025, there will be no access travelling southbound from St John Street to Charterhouse Street or to St John’s Lane. Advanced warning signs will alert motorists of the closure. Northbound access will be maintaned.

Further changes will be required as work progresses, and information on subsequent road closures and route changes will be made available in due course as the project progresses.

For up-to-date information on the current project phases please check this page, and also visit our contractor’s website for up-to-date information on diversions: www.marlboroughhighways.co.uk/location/st-john-street

We will need to suspend a number of parking bays within and adjacent to the work area, and these are shown in Figure 2 on page 4 of the August 2025 works notification letter. These bays will be suspended for the duration of the works – please see notices on the street during the works for the latest information on parking suspensions.

It is expected that all works requiring temporary traffic management and pedestrian diversions will be complete by the end of February 2026. Please note that we will work to the above time-frame and arrangements as closely as possible, but this may be subject to change.

Scheme design

Project Background

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.


A map of the St John Street project area in context - the map shows the area from Clerkenwell Road and Old Street in the north, to Smithfield market in the south. The project area is shaded in green, and covers the area from the junction with Cowcross Street to just north of St JOhn's Lane on St John Street


What you have told us through the project

Since the project was announced in February 2020, the council has been listening to feedback from residents in the area.

In 2019 we heard what local people had to say about issues in the area and what they would like the project to bring to the area, through discussion with local residents and businesses and survey data gathered at a “car-free day” on the street.

During the initial engagement for the project, you 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

In response to the feedback from local people and groups, we developed proposals 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

Between November and December 2024 we consulted publicly on a set of final draft proposals which were displayed both online and at Finsbury Library. Again, we received feedback through a survey, public workshops and talking to local businesses.

We have also received comments sent via email to the project team at: stjohnstreet@islington.gov.uk.

Your feedback to our consultation in late 2024

Most people who responded to our consultation survey in November-December said they agreed that the objectives of the project would be positive for the area and people's health and wellbeing in response to a range of statements. Some examples of these statements and your responses are:

"The proposed design will..."Definitely agreeAgreeNeitherDisagreeDefinitely disagree
...create a pleasant, new public space that is accessible to all60%15%4%7%14%
...make it easier to walk and wheel in the area60%12%9%8%11%
...make it safer to cycle in the area51%14%15%11%9%
...benefit the area's economy49%12%16%7%16%
...reflect the area's cultural heritage38%19%19%10%14%
...improve biodiversity in the area54%15%16%6%9%


Some of the most common comments we received in support of our consultation proposals were:

  • overall support for the scheme
  • support due to improved safety for people walking, wheeling and cycling
  • support for improving biodiversity and additional greening

Some of the most common comments we received expressing concerns about our consultation proposals were:

  • Concerns about the scheme as a whole and value for money
  • Concerns about the effect of Fabric nightclub
  • traffic fIltering may increase congestion on nearby roads

You can see:

What changes are we making in response to your consultation feedback?

In response to your feedback we will be:

  • making use of high quality paving materials throughout the area
  • extending the length of the planned loading bay on St John Street to make sure it supports businesses
  • extending and improving the design elements relating to the history of the area, including more detail on bespoke seating and heritage features
  • providing space for ambulances to drive through the traffic restriction on Charterhouse Street
  • adjusting the pedestrian crossing on Charterhouse Street to improve accessibility.

How you can get in touch

If you have any questions about the project, or you need this information in another language, a reading format such as Braille, large print or Easy Read, or a printed paper copy of these webpages, you can:

We will keep local people updated as the scheme progresses. You can also check this page for updates.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    St John Street Public Realm survey

    We would like to collect your comments and suggestions about the designs that have been shared.

    We really appreciate you taking the time to fill in this survey - thank you.



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Page last updated: 22 Aug 2025, 07:48 PM