Camden Council is consulting on the draft planning framework for Hawley Wharf and the surrounding area.
A large area is potentially included: it’s bounded by the Canal to the south, Castlehaven Road and Hawley Road to the north, Kentish Town Road to the east and Camden High Street to the west.
But the area between railway and canal blighted by fire damage is most likely to be developed.
The document mentions physical barriers to pedestrian movements, but there are similar barriers for cyclists.
page 5: Other key policy areas of the UDP include encouraging development that is accessible by means other than private cars, including public transport, walking and cycling …
page 10: Between and north of the railway lines: The opportunity exists to
open up pedestrian (and possibly cycle) routes through this area, including through railway arches to connect the canalside and development in this area to Hawley Road and Kentish Town Road and the wider are to the north and east.
page 13: In line with national and regional policy, Camden’s UDP seeks to: guide major development to the parts of the borough most easily reached by walking, cycling and public transport
Good access to public transport and provision for cycling go alongside restraints on car use.
Council will seek safe and convenient vehicle access to the area while maximising benefits to
the local environment and for pedestrians and cyclists. Cyclists accessing the area may also benefit from the provision of a cycle lane on Camden High Street/Chalk Farm Road.
The Council will support and encourage the creation of new pedestrian and cycle routes into and through the framework area which improve the area’s connectivity with surrounding areas and
provided there are no adverse impacts on existing residents.
Page 15. Sustainability. The policies to reduce vehicular traffic and encourage public transport, cycling
and walking have air quality in mind.
Page 16. IMPLEMENTATION
Other items for which the Council may seek to secure in the Hawley Wharf area through conditions/planning obligations include:
– improving the permeability and connectivity of the area for pedestrians and cyclists
Click here to see the consultation leaflet
CCC’s response
Additional permeability for cyclists
The consultation document mentions physical barriers to pedestrian movements, but there are similar barriers for cyclists. The most obvious barrier is the lack of south westerly movement across the area, for example, from the junction of Castehaven Road/Hawley Street to the junction of Camden High Street and Jamestown Road.
The consultation document on page 10 refers to the opportunity to open up pedestrian (and possibly cycle) routes through this area, including through railway arches to connect the canalside and development in this area to Hawley Road and Kentish Town Road and the wider are to the north and east.
And on page 15, it says that the Council will support and encourage the creation of new pedestrian and cycle routes into and through the framework area which improve the area’s connectivity with surrounding areas and
provided there are no adverse impacts on existing residents.
We therefore make the following proposals for your consideration:
- A cycle gap in the closure of Leybourne Street to provide connectivity from Chalk Farm Road via Hawley Street to Castlehaven Road (avoiding the junction under the railway bridge).
- A route via Haven Street to the canal towpath (providing connectivity between the junction of Castehaven Road/Hawley Street via Leybourne Street to Camden High Street and to other destinations accessible on the canal towpath).
- A route from the canal towpath over a new pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting to the Hawley Crescent. This last suggestion, together with the really rather modest (1) and (2) would complete our original proposal for a route from the junction of Castehaven Road/Hawley Street to the junction of Camden High Street and Jamestown Road. A new bridge would help to allaviate the current bottleneck at the existing road bridge.
The map on the next page illustrates our three proposals.
Cycle Parking
Short term and long term secure cycle parking is very important.
Questions:
- Do you agree that the area would benefit from the preparation of a planning framework?
- What issues should the planning framework address and do you agree with the Council’s broad aspirations for the area?
- Are there any other transport issues of relevance to the site?
