Centre for London, the think tank for London, has convened an independent, expert-led commission to provide fresh thinking on how the city can best manage the conflicting pressures on its roads and streets.
The Commission on the Future of London’s Roads and Streets is chaired by Sir Malcolm Grant CBE, Chair of NHS England, and is made up of senior experts in the field of transport policy, economic development, health and urban planning.
Considering the impact on different groups of users, the commission will recommend policies to maintain London’s competitiveness, reduce congestion and pollution, increase livability and the vitality of city streets, improve public health, and promote inclusive and sustainable growth. The Commission will look at the role that different types of policy interventions could play in meeting the challenges facing London’s roads and streets.
The work of the commissioners will be supported by a team of experts from Centre for London, as well as Atkins and Thales who will undertake new analysis on the choices facing London, as directed by the commission.
The full list of commissioners includes:
- Patricia Brown, Director, Central
- Ellie Cosgrave, Lecturer in Urban Innovation at Policy, STEaPP City Leadership Lab, University College London
- Professor Sir Malcolm Grant, Chair, NHS England
- Professor Peter Jones, OBE, Professor of Transport and Sustainable Development, University College London
- Professor Frank Kelly, Professor of Environmental Health, Kings College London
- Nick Lester-Davis, Director, Nick Lester-David Consultancy, Vice Chair, ERTRAC
- Tony Meehan, Transportation Consultancy, Practice Director, Atkins
- Professor David Metz, Honorary Professor, Centre for Transport Studies, University College London
Commissioners will meet at least four times over the next seven months and report in autumn 2017.
Sir Malcolm Grant CBE, Chair of NHS England and chair of the Commission on the Future of London’s Roads and Streets, said:
“London roads and streets are coming under ever greater pressure as London’s population grows and new technologies encourage new ways of getting around.
“As the Chair of NHS England, I am particularly interested in understanding the relations between London’s roads and streets and health. If we can tackle pollution and encourage people to be more active by improving public space and making our streets safer, it will pay dividends through the years.
“I look forward to working with this fantastic group of Commissioners to take a fresh look at how to reconcile the many conflicting demands on our surface transport system and public realm.”
Ben Rogers, Director, Centre for London said:
“London’s roads and streets play a vital role in the city, both as transport routes and as public spaces. But unless we can find new ways of managing the growing demands on them, London risks falling victim to its own success.
“We are delighted that Sir Malcolm has agreed to serve as Chair of the Roads and Streets Commission.
“He brings a unique range of qualifications to the role. We look forward to supporting him and the other commissioners as they work with the Mayor and the boroughs in producing what promises to be a highly influential report.”