Transforming Gordon Street and Gordon Square west

Overview

The transformation of Gordon Street and the western side of Gordon Square would create a more sustainable and people-focused environment in the heart of Bloomsbury.

Camden Council in partnership with UCL are proposing trial changes on Gordon Street and the western side of Gordon Square.

We want our streets to provide a lasting legacy of greener, safer, healthier travel that not only support physical activity but also nurture wellbeing and happiness by connecting people with green space and nature. Greener streets can help improve mental health, reduce stress, and make everyday journeys more enjoyable for everyone.

Two-thirds of households in Camden do not own a car, and around 87% of all trips by Camden residents are made on foot, by bike or on public transport. Supporting and encouraging those who can, to walk and cycle, by creating safer, healthier streets, will help ensure that there is more space available on public transport and on our roads for those who need it the most.

In line with our Camden Transport Strategy, Climate Action Plan, and Clean Air Action Plan, and to continue supporting safe, healthy, and active travel, we have been making changes across Camden as part of our Safe and Healthy Streets Programme.

Why your views matter

Gordon Street and Gordon Square (western side) are key streets within the Bloomsbury ward. They are a connection to UCL’s campus, to Euston Road, HS2 project and situated in the Knowledge Quarter. The street links to the Tavistock-Torrington cycle route in the south and is part of future ambitions to create green infrastructure routes which would connect Camden to the Thames (the potential Bloomsbury Green Corridor part of the Bloomsbury Vision which is currently being developed).

We want to build on our work completed in partnership with UCL on the Gordon Square (north), to improve this area further for people who live, study and visit Gordon Street and Gordon Square. The trial proposals would offer a safer space for people to enjoy being in and moving through, with more greenery and better air quality.

Summary of our proposals

The main transformation we’re proposing is a trial measure to restrict through-traffic on Gordon Street and the western side of Gordon Square, between Byng Place and just south of Endsleigh Gardens.

We’re proposing the following:

• Trial restriction of through-traffic on Gordon Street/Gordon Square (western side) between Byng Place and just south of Endsleigh Gardens. No vehicle access would be allowed from the north and limited access only to loading and Blue Badge holders would be allowed from Byng Place (see details below). Those motor vehicles accessing the space would only be allowed in a north bound direction, cycling would be allowed in both directions. This would create new space for street improvements which prioritise walking, wheeling, cycling and creating a sense of place. The scheme would be introduced as a trial for a period of up to 18 months.
• Adding planters for more greenery and biodiversity. More space for trial planters would help improve air quality, reduce urban heating, enhance biodiversity and improve the look and feel of the area. 
• New seating to create places to stop, rest and enjoy. Along with planters, new trial seating would transform the street into a more inviting and comfortable space to enjoy where people can rest and socialise.
• Keeping space for sustainable transport options like Dockless E-scooter and cycle hire bay. We will retain all existing e-scooter/cycle hire bays on Gordon Street and Gordon Square (western side). This would encourage more people to choose sustainable transport options and improve air quality.
• Keeping access to the existing Blue Badge holder parking bay, plus adding one new Blue Badge holder parking bay. We’re proposing to retain but move the existing disabled bay from outside the Christopher Ingold Building to outside the Bloomsbury Theatre and Studio. We are also proposing to add a new Blue Badge holder parking bay next to it. This would bring important benefits to the space for accessibility and increase the capacity on the street for blue badge holder parking.  
• Statutory emergency services would be able to access all properties on the street during the trial as needed in response to emergencies. Refuse and recycling collection would also be able to access the street. This would ensure safety of all and ensure essential services continue.    
• New loading bays to enable loading on Gordon Street. We’re proposing three new loading bays on Gordon Street for loading and unloading services to the street where access would be allowed at all times. These bays are proposed outside no.17 Gordon Street, no.25 Gordon Street, and no.27 - 28 Gordon Street. This would allow servicing on Gordon Street to continue while reducing the total volume of motor vehicles in the area and prioritising people walking and cycling most of the time.
• Keeping access to the existing Electric Vehicle Charging Point (EVCP) bay outside no.23 Gordon Street. The existing EV charging station on Gordon Street would be kept and would be accessed from Endsleigh Gardens.  
• Improving cycle safety at junction of Gordon Square (south) and Gordon Square (east). With Gordon Street and Gordon Square (western side) prioritised for people walking, wheeling and cycling, motor vehicles seeking to travelling north would be able to use Gordon Square (east)/Taviton Street or Tavistock Square/Endsleigh Street (in additional to other routes in the wider area). We are looking to introduce improvements for safer walking and cycling at this junction. These improvements would be similar to those introduced at the junction of Gordon Square (west) and Gordon Street (south)/Byng Place, these measures would raise the cycle lane across the junction to slow motor vehicle speeds.
• Changes to parking/loading. To support the transformation of Gordon Street and Gordon Square (western side), changes to existing parking bays would need to be made. Full details of the changes that are proposed can be found in the table 1 below:

(Table 1)

Table 1 above shows 10.3 metres of Solo motorcycles bays would be removed. There are a number of solo motorcycle bays in close proximity on the surrounding streets. Table 2 below outlines these locations, please note no changes are proposed to the solo motorcycle bays in Table 2.

(Table 2)

There are currently 23 CA-D/E Resident permit holders bays on Gordon Street and Gordon Square (south, east, west) with 3 active CA-D/E permits. Table 1 above shows 79.6 metres (circa 16 bays) of CA-D/E Resident permit holders bays are proposed to be removed on Gordon Street and Gordon Square (west).

In addition, there are 101 CA-D/E Resident permit holders bays in the immediate streets (Tavistock Square, Taviton Street, Endsleigh Gardens, Endsleigh Street and Gordon Square) with 53 active CA-D/E permits. Meaning surrounding streets have available capacity to accommodate the proposed removal of 16 CA-D/E Resident permit holders bays on Gordon Street and Gordon Square (west). More information on Controlled Parking Zones can be found here.

To view the drawing of the proposal, click on the links in the ‘Related Documents’ at the bottom of this page.

Summary of traffic data

Motor Vehicle volumes

To prepare our proposals traffic counts were undertaken, in May 2024, for Gordon Street/Gordon Square west to understand the current situation. The 24 hour (7 day average) motor vehicle traffic volumes are shown in Table 3 below:

(Table 3)

Cycle volumes

The 24 hour (7 day average) cycle volumes are shown in the table below.

(Table 4)

Why your views matter

Your views are important in providing feedback both on the proposed scheme as a whole and elements of it, and we would therefore welcome your responses on the pages that follow. 

To view the drawing of the proposal, click on the links in the ‘Related Documents’ at the bottom of this page.

For information on how we will use data collected from this consultation read our privacy statement: Data protection, privacy and cookies - Camden Council

What happens next

After the consultation, a decision report will be produced and published online via our website. Local residents and stakeholders will be notified of the outcome. The report will consider a broad range of information including officer observations, consultation responses, relevant policies, and other data/information.

If a decision is made to go ahead with the scheme, the proposed trial restriction to through traffic on the street would be introduced as a trial under an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) for 18 months. Officers would monitor the scheme and would consider additional measures if necessary. Feedback received during the trial period, along with data collected and relevant policy considerations, would help inform the decision on whether to remove, retain, or amend the trial (ETO) scheme.

By trialling changes, we would be able to see how the street is used and develops over-time. Following the consultation, if the trial is approved the changes could be delivered ahead of UCL’s bicentennial in 2026, providing potential space for associated events. This would allow us to test out what sort of activities are popular and how a new space for people could flourish.

To view the plans click on the links in the Related Section at the bottom of this page.

For information on how we will use data collected from this consultation read our privacy statement: Data protection, privacy and cookies - Camden Council