PJA were appointed by the Dulwich Village Forum to help make the case for progressive street and environment improvements in the local area.
The client was concerned about the aesthetic and functional impact of a proposed Quietway cycle route in Dulwich, specifically the intrusive nature of the proposed changes to the existing signalised junction of Dulwich Village, Court Lane, Calton Avenue and Turney Road. This complex five-arm junction is already vehicle-dominated, and the client felt that the addition of a cycle stage – requiring the deletion of the all-red pedestrian stage – was not in-keeping with the heavy pedestrian footfall in this area. The client was keen to promote an un-signalised option comprising three mini-roundabouts.
PJA were able to take the client’s concept scheme and turn it into a workable solution that met the aims of the Forum as well as complying with London Cycle Design Standards. The solution that PJA put forward was to make use of more informal roundels – rather than min-roundabouts – with a complete ring of cycle-zebra crossings providing pedestrian and cycle priority over vehicles entering the junction. This was positively received by the client, as they felt it exceeded their expectations. However, traffic modelling of this option proved less favourable, with queues and congestion predicted to increase in the short term, although the general trend of declining motor vehicle traffic in London meant the proposed layout was expected to be within tolerable performance within a few years.
While the design and modelling exercise proved to be ultimately abortive, it did prove the value in being able to consider traffic scenarios in which removal of traffic is considered. The area is typified by its permeability for all modes of transport, leading to large flows of traffic, including school coaches, down what are essentially unsuitable residential streets. The council has committed to engage with the client and the wider local community on a holistic review of traffic in neighbourhood streets in Dulwich, and the learning points from this process are expected to inform that process.
