Better pavements for all Londoners.
What is Street Clutter?
Street clutter can be defined as poorly placed or redundant objects on the pavement that negatively impact pedestrians or other pavement users.
This can be permanent street furniture like telephone boxes or advertisement boards or temporary obstructions such as business waste, parked cars, or roadworks signs.
Whatever is in the way, it can be a big problem for Londoners. Particularly for wheelchair users, people with buggies, and business owners.
Challenges with reducing street clutter
Reducing street clutter can be complicated.
There’s no consensus on the exact definition of street clutter. And even in areas where people know it’s a problem, organisations often lack the capacity or power to act.
Solutions will require co-operation between local government, national government, local businesses and Business Improvement Districts, residents, and other groups. To make this happen, we need understand who has power to declutter and what the barriers to action are.
Our research
This research will explore a range of questions, including:
- How cluttered are central London’s streets?
- What are the negative impacts on street users and local businesses?
- What are the drivers of street clutter?
- How are other global cities dealing with street clutter?
The research will also explore who has power to declutter, and the barriers to maintaining safe, accessible, and attractive streets.