Huge new public park and play area to open in London will be the ‘biggest in the city’
A NEW green space is coming to London and it’s set to be the biggest in the city centre.
In between St Paul’s Cathedral and the former site of the Museum of London will be a 3,000 square metre piazza with a children’s play area.
Greyfriars Square will be the biggest public open space in the City of London.
The new square will be next to Christchurch Greyfriars Church Garden and is part of London’s scheme to make the city greener.
The project is all part of the huge transformation of the St Paul’s gyratory system which will be completely overhauled.
At the moment, the pedestrian and cyclist access to the complex is through a one-way traffic system.
Built in the 1970s, it is safe to say the gyratory needs a complete overhaul – and it’s getting one.
The already existing 1,500 square metres of roads will be converted into pavements.
To make the space more accessible for those on foot and bikes, there will also be 800 new metres of east-west and north-south cycle lanes.
They will also add new and improved crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
Greyfriars Square will look completely different once the works are finished as three traffic lanes at the south end of King Edward Street will be closed for good.
These lanes will be converted into a new pedestrianised public square, which will be the size of 11.5 tennis courts and will include a children’s play area.
Plans for the development were first approved in May 2024.
They have now announced that work will begin this month on April 28.
There are four phases of works, with everything set to be completed by 2027.
Talking about the new plans for St Paul’s Cathedral piazza, the Chairman of the City of London Corporation Planning and Transport Committee, Shravan Joshi, said: “The St Paul’s Gyratory project will enhance all that the Square Mile offers, creating a welcoming walking route that connects the Tate Modern to the future London Museum.”
He continued: “I am extremely proud that this is the biggest open space ever to be delivered in the City, which will have amenities that offer a place to rest, socialise and play.
“We are committed to deliver new public spaces for everyone to enjoy, in line with our ‘Destination City’ growth strategy to secure the Square Mile’s status as a world-leading place to invest.”
Plus, a trendy London neighbourhood is to get a new shopping attraction.
And the world-famous UK high street, a playground for punks and tourists, is to go car-free.
This UK Attraction Will Undergo A Huge Upgrade
The Barbican is about to undergo a much-needed restoration.
The centre which opened in 1982 is getting a makeover confirmed at £191million so far with every part of the buildings being restored and revitalised if their plans get approved.
Due to damage over the years, the Barbican has submitted plans for well-needed updates to restore the building, which has “deteriorated significantly”.
The update will refresh everything from the exterior to building systems, including the boiler, which will be restored after being affected by erosion.
One of the best and free attractions in the UK is the Barbican’s conservatory that is home to thousands of species of plants including banana trees, cacti, yuccas and Swiss cheese plant.
But, it needs updating because the roof has glazing that is at risk of caving in and is covered by a safety net.
With the Barbican conservatory becoming a wedding venue on Saturdays, it means it’s generally closed to the public.