A series of works were planned for Wandsworth Bridge Road to begin last August but they have still not started
Wandsworth Bridge Road is a key highway in south Fulham(Image: LDRS)
A West London council which last summer announced plans to make changes to a busy road is having to redesign elements of the scheme.
In correspondence released to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it can be revealed that Hammersmith and Fulham Council had to “return to the design stage” for its planned upgrades to Wandsworth Bridge Road.
The review of the scheme, work on which was initially expected to begin last August, came about following consultation with Transport for London (TfL). A new approach has since been shared with the transport authority.
A spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council said the local authority is revisiting the programme for the length of Wandsworth Bridge Road, and that it plans to bring forward an “updated corridor vision” later this year.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council revealed its proposed changes to Wandsworth Bridge Road in July last year.
In a letter distributed to local residents and businesses Cllr Florian Chevoppe-Verdier, Cabinet Member for Public Realm, wrote the works would begin in the week commencing August 18, to last roughly a month.
The redesign is part of the wider South Fulham Clean Air Neighbourhood (CAN), a council initiative which has also seen cameras erected on streets either side of Wandsworth Bridge Road to prevent out-of-borough drivers rat-running.
The upgrades were to involve the installation of four raised zebra crossings, new cycle hire parking bays, replacing the existing parklet at the Ryecroft/Bovingdon crossing with an extended kerb featuring communal seating, greenery and planters, and designated loading bays for businesses.
Work was however delayed initially due to the volume of public feedback received and then the council failing to consult TfL, a statutory obligation given Wandsworth Bridge Road is part of the Strategic Road Network.
In documents released following a Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted by the LDRS it was revealed TfL had privately raised concerns about the potential impacts of the changes on bus times.
The Wandsworth Bridge Road proposals are part of the council’s wider South Fulham Clean Air Neighbourhood scheme(Image: LDRS)
The LDRS can also now reveal that following an internal review the council has had to adopt “a revised approach to the programme”.
An email sent to TfL by a Lead Engineer at Hammersmith and Fulham Council on February 10, names redacted, stated: “This reflects the need to return to the design stage and establish a unified and coherent direction across both Wandsworth Bridge Road (WBR) and the South Fulham Active Travel Network, bringing them together as a single integrated programme.
“This will strengthen technical consistency, operational robustness, and shared understanding of the constraints – particularly around bus operations and the SRN.”
The officer added that as part of this new approach the proposals for crossings and their locations are to be reviewed.
“Working closely with TfL, we will explore whether the controlled crossings could form the earliest deliverable elements of the scheme, while ensuring they remain consistent with the wider corridor vision. We are also aiming to identify opportunities to bring forward early improvements to uncontrolled crossings where supported by evidence and design constraints.”
An ‘Updated Programme Direction’ is also outlined, with focuses including improving pedestrian safety at Wandsworth Bridge Road, measures to support traffic reduction and opportunities for greening, and integration with the wider South Fulham Active Travel Network.
In the same FoI response the LDRS also received minutes from a meeting between TfL, Hammersmith and Fulham, Richmond and Wandsworth on March 3.
An executive summary of the amended approach to the scheme is outlined, which includes “rationalised and better‑distributed crossing provision”, reconfigured northern and southern junctions to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, greening upgrades, and integrating improved cycle lane crossings “to ensure seamless connectivity within wider network”.
TfL is recorded as asking how the existing parklets scheme is being monitored, and requested a strategy for this to be presented at the next meeting.
Parklets have proven controversial
The temporary installation of the parklets along Wandsworth Bridge Road has drawn the ire of some local residents, with the Hammersmith and Fulham Conservative group committing to tearing them out if it wins in the May elections.
A councillor previously said the parklets had turned Wandsworth Bridge Road into an ‘obstacle course'(Image: LDRS)
Amendments to crossings were also discussed, “including potential changes to the informal crossing points at the northern end of Wandsworth Bridge Road”.
TfL and the council are due to arrange a site visit, and the brief for the scheme is to be shared so TfL can provide feedback. The delivery of “controlled crossings” is expected in late 2026.
Commenting on the revised approach and delays to the scheme, a council spokesperson said: “We remain committed to working collaboratively with our residents and businesses, through consultation and engagement, to transform Wandsworth Bridge Road from a highway into a high street that is vibrant and more accessible – a place of which we can all be proud.
“We are currently revisiting and refining the vision for the entire length of Wandsworth Bridge Road in partnership with Transport for London. Our intention is to bring forward an updated corridor vision in the second half of 2026. In the meantime we will be installing new bins and decluttering the pavements to make the street more attractive to shoppers and residents.”
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