The new design will provide larger pedestrian areas, reduce the speed and volume of traffic, and unite the area’s world-leading museums and arts venues. Reinforcing its commitment to make Exhibition Road a more accessible cultural destination, Kensington and Chelsea Council, together with Westminster City Council and Transport for London, appointed Cllr Andrew Lamont as access champion for the scheme in May. Cllr Lamont will be working with traffic engineers and engaging with disability groups on the final form of the scheme to ensure it is accessible to all.

Work started in January with the unravelling of the one-way system around South Kensington and traffic will switch over to two-way this summer. These changes alone will considerably improve conditions – pavements will be widened and crossing points made safer for pedestrians; more effective use of the road network will ease congestion for motorists and bus stops will be moved from Thurloe Street to overcome crowding at the entrance to South Kensington Station.

On completion of this first phase of the project, Thurloe Street north of the station will be transformed into a generous open space and will form an easy gateway to the southern end of Exhibition Road. In November, work will begin on the second phase to create a single surface spanning length of Exhibition Road using high quality dark and light granite to create a chequer design. The road will be divided into clear zones including large pedestrian areas, a parking zone and a carriageway for slow moving traffic, with clear delineation between each.

The scheme will create a world-class streetscape for the capital’s most important cultural destination. It will provide much more outdoor space for pedestrians as well as local restaurants and cafes in the area and will help visitors to find their way to the fine museums and institutions that stretch the length of Exhibition Road up to Hyde Park.

www.rbkc.gov.uk/exhibitionroad/