City’s new planning boss on a ‘renewed, refreshed’ committee

COMMENT With the recovery from the pandemic making swift progress in the Square Mile and London, it is becoming ever clearer that the built environment will need to play a leading role in driving investment and regeneration across the capital.   This week, I was elected to the role of planning and transportation chairman at the City of London Corporation. I will be leading the committee responsible for making critical decisions on the Square Mile’s built environment, including on major planning applications, transportation schemes and in the manifestation of our City Plan 2040. I look forward to working inclusively and constructively with committee members – and with the City’s unique blend of residents, workers, visitors, businesses, charities, courts and other civic institutions – over the term of my office.  Transport tweaks The planning and transportation committee’s remit is, by nature, wide-ranging and impactful.  That scope is perhaps best demonstrated by the Court of Common Council’s decision earlier this month to review all traffic orders currently in place on public highway across the City, and to bring forward a review of the traffic mix and timings of restrictions at Bank Junction.  With more people back in the office and the City’s “new normal” starting to emerge, elected members have rightly recognised that now is the time to reflect on the trajectory of our transportation schemes.  Officers have already begun scoping on the survey of all traffic orders, including the associated surveys and analysis which will be required to inform an effective review. An update on the approach for this review will be heard by the planning and transportation committee next month.  Officers have also kick-started the Bank Junction review, which will initially be overseen by the streets and walkways sub-committee.  We are poised to get on with the job and do whatever is needed to realise the vision we have for a 24/7 Square Mile.   Major milestones I believe the next few years represent a unique opportunity to shape our urban environment against the backdrop of the recovery from the global pandemic.  This has to work in sync with the principles within our climate action and transport strategies, as the deliverables from these policies will be what unlocks the future of our vibrant, sustainable and thriving City.  We know there may be some difficult discussions and decisions ahead, but these initial transportation reviews will ensure we take an evidence-based approach to seizing that opportunity.  Of course, it is not just our own reviews marking major milestones at the start of my term.  A moment we all look forward to is the soon opening of the Elizabeth Line, anticipated for the first half of this year and the boost of public transport capacity to accommodate future employment growth and improved connectivity to the Square Mile will be warmly welcomed. There will undoubtedly be moments we cannot yet predict which will transform this new term but, for now, the committee is renewed, refreshed and well equipped to enthusiastically get on with creating and maintaining a world-class built environment for all of the City’s stakeholders. Shravan Joshi is chair of planning and transportation committee at the City of London Corporation Image: City of London Corporation