Greening Rotherhithe New Road

Southwark Council has been awarded £40k for plans to improve a large part of Rotherhithe New Road for pedestrians and cyclists.

The money comes from the GLA’s Green and Resilient Spaces fund .

It will be used to prepare a masterplan to transform a large stretch of Rotherhithe New Road’s pavement between the junction with Ilderton Road in the east and Verney Road in the west.

The scheme will convert roughly 3,000 sqm of featureless tarmac/pavement into a verdant new green space with planting and play areas alongside a new cycle and pedestrian footway, almost 1km in length.

The project, which will help to tackle noise and air pollution as well as providing new recreational space, is one of a dozen schemes, across London, to receive a Green and Resilient Spaces Fund grant, this year.

The purpose of the fund is to support large-scale, innovative projects which improve green and blue spaces and the wider public realm. It is part of the GLA’s efforts to strengthen climate resilience; increase London’s biodiversity; improve accessibility; build green skills and to help reduce health inequalities.

The Rotherhithe New Road project will include:

• A new cycle and pedestrian route
• A large area of new planting
• A number of parklets and wild play areas
• New trees
• Greater biodiversity
• Improved, natural drainage

The council will engage with the local community on the plans over the summer.

The masterplan will be completed this year and the project delivered in 2024, subject to funding being available.