Westminster-wide 20mph rollout 

Westminster City Council is set to rollout out a city-wide 20mph limit to provide safer, greener, and cleaner streets across the heart of London. 

As lockdown measures are gradually eased and London begins to open up again, careful attention is being paid to Westminster’s famous streets used by thousands each day to ensure that they are as safe as possible for pedestrians. As part of these essential safety improvements, traffic speeds across the entire city will soon be limited to 20mph. 

Reducing speeds reduces the severity of accidents and makes it safer to travel on foot or by cycle, helping to improve public space and to encourage healthier, more active lifestyles.

Cllr Andrew Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways & Environment:

“The way people are travelling around our city is changing, and as more people opt to walk and cycle in light of covid-19, we need to respond and adapt to ensure our streets are safe for all.

“Reducing our borough-wide speed limit will not only save lives but will also create a calmer and more inviting street environment for those who visit our city. These safer streets will encourage the use of greener modes of transport, improve air quality, and help us to kickstart Westminster’s powerful economy once more.” 

As Westminster’s streets begin to get busier and the council works to kickstart the local economy, the implementation of the 20mph scheme is essential to making it easier than ever for people to safely travel around the city, especially as many continue to follow public health guidance on social distancing. This plan comes as a host of safety measures are rolled out across Westminster’s streets, including increased cycle lanes and widened footpaths. 

The decision follows a public consultation held in 2019, with over two-thirds of responses showing support for the changes. A further consultation launched today (3rd June) will set out how the scheme will be implemented around the city, closing on 1st July before the new speed limits begin to rollout across the city.  

• Consultation on the 20mph proposal took place between 17 September 2019 and 10 December 2019. 66% of respondents to the consultation were in support of the proposed scheme.
• Further details on the consultation responses and the Cabinet Member’s decision can be found at https://bit.ly/20mphwcc
• The 20mph limit in Westminster would apply to all roads apart from TfL red routes and those in the Royal Parks.
• 20mph speeds limits have already been introduced around 39 schools in the city - a move supported by 73% of residents surveyed. 
• The Traffic Management Order (TMO) consultation opens 3rd June 2020 and runs until 1st July 2020, details can be found here.