London Promenade
Urban Integration Study
Initial scoping report
April 2006
The Glasshouse
Melior Place
London
SE1 3SZ
United Kingdom
T +44 (0) 20 7407 6574
Contact for further information
Michael DavisExecutive Project Director
11 Riverside Studios
28 Park Street
London
SE1 9EQ
United Kingdom
T +44 (0) 20 7940 0000
F +44 (0) 20 7940 0005
www.spacesyntax.com
Contact for further information
Tim StonorManaging Director
Document reference
517_Report_100406
© Space Syntax Limited, 2006
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The London Promenade: Synopsis
The London Promenade project is a proposal to create a new extension to the
existing promenade at the South Bank Centre, eastwards from Gabriel’s Wharf,
along the south bank of the River Thames, via Bankside, Borough Market, and
the Pool of London to connect with the existing jetty at Butler's Wharf.
It would be the logical conclusion to the successful but partial and piecemeal
improvements to the River Walk over the last decade. Significantly enlarged,
incorporating jetties and piers, over the water and under bridges, the London
Promenade would benefit the capital as a whole by creating a new, accessible,
major waterfront park for the 21st century.
The London Promenade would refocus attention on the River Thames at the
heart of London and revitalise the river; define the South Bank as the new
cultural quarter for London and provide a spectacular and safe venue for large
celebrations. Of utmost importance would be its reinforcement of London’s
image and identity, the perception in which it is held in the eyes of the world.
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Introduction
The aim of this report is to present the findings of a scoping study of
the London Promenade carried out by Space Syntax. For this first
phase of work, Space Syntax has been commissioned by The Thames
Promenade Co. Ltd. to:
• carry out a desktop study by consolidating existing data held
by Space Syntax on pedestrian movement patterns along the
Thames in central London
• to create a ‘low-resolution spatial integration’ model of the
existing Thames Path and to analyse the spatial impact of the
proposed Promenade on the surrounding area
The study was made possible through partial funding by the Pool of
London Partnership.
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Project team
Client Michael Davis, Executive Project Director
The Thames Promenade Co. Ltd.
Concept Michael Davis
Michael Davis Designs
Architects, Masterplanners, Darrel Conybeare and Bill Morrison
Urban and Landscape Conybeare Morrison International Pty Ltd.
Design Consultants
Urban Integration Tim Stonor
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Original concept
Reconnecting people to the river
Showcase London to the world
Create a stage for great celebrations
The London Promenade
Prepared for: The Thames Promenade Co. Ltd.
Created by: Michael Davis Designs
In collaboration with: Conybeare Morrison International Pty Ltd,
Architects, Masterplanners, Urban and Landscape Design
Consultants
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Consultation
GLA Paul Harper & Jamie Dean, AUU
Val Shawcross, GLA member
LB Southwark Cllr Nick Stanton, leader
Cllr Jeffrey Hook, head of regeneration
Paul Evans
CABE Selina Mason, director of design review
Julia Thrift
CRP Savas Sivetides
PLP Linda Houston
CLP Pat Brown
BETTER BANKSIDE Giles Semper
TATE Donald Hyslop
LIVING STREETS Tom Franklin
SBC Michael Lynch
Mike McCart
URBED Nick Faulkes
Esther Caplin
SBCA Rowan Moore
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Integrated infrastructure
The new pedestrian and cycling artery will:
• improve the infrastructure of Central London and be a major incentive
for commuters to walk or cycle to work, relieving congestion on roads and
public transport
• provide an attractive alternative route to the City and the West End for
the increasing number of South Bank residents
• link major commercial employers along the whole of the south bank
directly to the Waterloo, Blackfriars and London Bridge suburban
interchanges of rail, bus and tube, and to the new pedestrian bridges at
Hungerford, Bankside and the proposed Jubilee Bridge at Cannon Street.
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New cultural quarter for London
The new pedestrian and cycling artery will:
• benefit the capital as a whole by creating a new, metropolitan park of
international importance
• create a new visitor spine, relieving the Covent Garden, West End and
Knightsbridge axis
• link major visitor and cultural attractions from the South Bank Centre to
Tate Modern, the Globe, Vinopolis, Southwark Cathedral, City Hall, Tower
Bridge and the Design Museum
• capture the growth and wider regeneration benefits expected over the
next 10 – 15 years, through Elephant & Castle, London Bridge and Waterloo
opportunity areas
• allow the central urban section of the River Thames to be used as the stage
for great celebrations and festivals, including the Olympics in 2012. The
promenade itself will develop existing capacity by 150,000 spectators at
moderate density in safety.
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2.5km recreation facility
The London Promenade will provide:
• a wide recreation facility with greater capacity for walkers, joggers,
runners, roller-bladers and cyclists
• a traffic-free environment, with piazzas opening on to it, as at Tate
Modern, Southwark Cathedral, The Scoop and Potters Fields Park
• diversity and interest through pavilions, kiosks, piers, different surface
treatments, and international public sculpture
• the climax of the long-distance Thames Path and a setting for major
events such as the London Marathon, the Lord Mayor's Show on the
river, the London International Festival of Theatre, Son et Lumière, and
New Year Fireworks displays.
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Economic potential
The London Promenade will:
• further unlock commercial potential along its whole length, with
shops, cafés, bars, hotels, restaurants, galleries, markets and
performance arts
• promote the day-and night-time economies of London South
Central and benefit local businesses, creating jobs and
encouraging investment
• increase levels of visitors who will, in current terms, bring an
estimated extra £ 650 million pounds per annum to the area
• be a strategic project for London with the potential to generate
substantial economic and social benefits for London as a whole
as well as more localised impacts in Southwark.
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The Thames
The London Promenade will:
• celebrate the historic central urban section of the River
Thames, the dramatic ebb and flow of the tide, its bridges, its
ever-changing river activities, and the views of the urban north
bank
• provide greater access to the foreshore, whose ecology will be
protected and enhanced
• create a “Blue Ribbon” park, which will connect North London to
South London, and will revitalise and promote the use of the river.
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Spatial Accessibility Transport
©Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.Licence number: 100032229
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Easily accessible by all means of public transport
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odel of Elephant & Castle development proposal showing the connection to Tate Modern
Commissioned by The London Borough of Southwark
Spatial Accessibility North - South Connections
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Tying together the key north-south routes adding value to the new creative
industries quarter in London South Central
Ease of movement along the London Promenade and new identities will open up the north-south routes which it will
make easier for pedestrians to move into the new creative industries quarter in London South Central.
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Site Context Development Sites
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Part of the continued regeneration process of London’s south bank
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Riverside Walk Peak Pedestrian Flows
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Pedestrian flows are high throughout
Information based on pedestrian movement data collected by Space Syntax between 2000 and 2005.
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Riverside Walk Width
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Several segments of current route are narrow
The width of the Riverside Walk was measured based on OS map 2002.
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Riverside Walk Peak Pedestrian Density
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Pedestrian comfort is compromised
Density was calculated by dividing pedestrian flow levels (hourly basis) by the width of the Riverside Walk (in linear meters). Pedestrian comfort, in this
particular instance, refers to increase in density (over-crowding). Other factors may also affect comfort, but were not part of the scope of this study.
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Twists and Turns Existing
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Too many twists and turns causing confusion and preventing visitors from spending
more time and money along the south bank
A legible route encourages pedestrians to explore, and spend more time along the promenade and in the surrounding area. A higher number of
visitors will bring more money to the whole area benefiting both new and existing local business.
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Twists and Turns Proposal
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Enhanced way-finding and visitors can now enjoy the river walk and its views
The increased width allows improved management of cyclists and pedestrians
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Spatial Accessibility Increase compared with existing
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A much more accessible route
For a technical description of ‘accessibility increase’, refer to ‘Space Syntax Methodology’ at the end of this report. The current analysis
does not include access between bridges and walkways which will be the subject in further studies.
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Pedestrian Movement Current and Potential Use of the Riverside Walk - South London
0
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
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10,000,000
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people per year
location
Waterloo Bridge
OXO Tower
Blackfriars Bridge
Tate Modern
Southwark Bridge
London Bridge
More London
Shad Thames
Existing data by Space Syntax on pedestrian flows show that 30 million people a year currenlty use the Riverside Walk. The construction of
the London Promenade will increase the accessibility to this area. Based on the increased levels of accessibility, it is estimated that a further
30 million people will use the Riverside Walk. These visitors will, in current terms, bring in an extra £650 million pounds per annum1 to the
area.
1. Based on a marketing survey commissioned by the Pool of London Partnership on visitors’ spending levels in the area (2002).
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Pedestrian Movement Current and Potential Use of the Riverside Walk - South London
60 million people
30 million people
©Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number: 100032229
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Space Syntax methodology
Spatial accessibility values can then be
calculated from the spatial accessibility map by
first selecting a line, then calculating how many
other lines must be used wholly or in part to reach
every other line in the whole spatial accessibility
map. When this calculation is made for each line
in the map it turns out that some lines require
fewer changes of direction than others in order to
cover the rest of the spatial accessibility map.
In every processed spatial accessibility map each
line has a ’spatial accessibility value’ assigned to
it. This value reflects the complexity of routes
from that line to all the others within the system.
This complexity should influence movement in
two ways. First, an accessible line is more easily
accessible than a segregated one because it can
be reached by simpler routes from other lines –
thus it should receive a high degree of ‘to’
movement.
Second, a more accessible line should be more
likely to be selected as part of a route between
other pairs of lines: that is, it will attract more
‘through’ movement. It is the combination of their
role in ‘to’ and ‘through’ movement that make
spatial accessibility values a reasonable measure
to consider in estimating movement potentials.
Space Syntax specialises in the analysis and
design of urban environments and, in particular,
the design of pedestrian linkages and public
spaces.
We make direct observations of pedestrian and
vehicular activity patterns, identify the important
factors that influence these patterns, and then
use purpose-designed computer programs to
incorporate these factors into models that
forecast the effects of new developments.
Spatial integration
An important measure that helps us understand
the spatial structure of an area and its effects on
pedestrian activity is called ‘spatial accessibility’.
Accessibility is based on a map of spatial
connections called ’spatial accessibility map’. The
’spatial accessibility map is constructed on the
basis of an accurate scale map, by drawing the
longest and fewest straight lines, or ‘lines of
sight’, that pass through all the accessible space
in an urban area. The resulting pattern of
intersecting lines is then digitised and the inter-
relationships amongst the lines are analysed
using a bespoke software package. Through this
process an understanding of the essentially
spatial structure and features of an area is built
up.
Movement patterns: the influence of spatial
configuration
Independent research has consistently shown
that spatial configuration as measured by
integration is one of the key factors that influence
movement in urban areas.
Spatial accessibility maps frequently provide a
robust forecast of actual patterns of movement,
with the distribution pattern of movement closely
following the distribution of accessibility values.
We call the amount of movement that can be
accounted for by spatial configuration the ‘natural
movement’ of an area.