London Promenade

Urban Integration Study

Initial scoping report

April 2006
11 Riverside Studios
28 Park Street
London
SE1 9EQ
United Kingdom

T +44 (0) 20 7940 0000

F +44 (0) 20 7940 0005

london@spacesyntax.com
www.spacesyntax.com

Contact for further information

Tim Stonor
Managing Director

The Glasshouse
Melior Place
London
SE1 3SZ
United Kingdom

T +44 (0) 20 7407 6574

Document reference
Contact for further information 517_Report_100406

Michael Davis
Executive Project Director © Space Syntax Limited, 2006
 Insert scanned image of Thames

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The London Promenade: Synopsis

The London Promenade project is a proposal to create a new extension to the

existing promenade at the South Bank Centre, eastwards from Gabriel’s Wharf,
along the south bank of the River Thames, via Bankside, Borough Market, and
the Pool of London to connect with the existing jetty at Butler's Wharf.

It would be the logical conclusion to the successful but partial and piecemeal
improvements to the River Walk over the last decade. Significantly enlarged,
incorporating jetties and piers, over the water and under bridges, the London
Promenade would benefit the capital as a whole by creating a new, accessible,
major waterfront park for the 21st century.

The London Promenade would refocus attention on the River Thames at the
heart of London and revitalise the river; define the South Bank as the new
cultural quarter for London and provide a spectacular and safe venue for large
celebrations. Of utmost importance would be its reinforcement of London’s
image and identity, the perception in which it is held in the eyes of the world.

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Introduction

The aim of this report is to present the findings of a scoping study of

the London Promenade carried out by Space Syntax. For this first
phase of work, Space Syntax has been commissioned by The Thames
Promenade Co. Ltd. to:

• carry out a desktop study by consolidating existing data held

by Space Syntax on pedestrian movement patterns along the
Thames in central London

• to create a ‘low-resolution spatial integration’ model of the

existing Thames Path and to analyse the spatial impact of the
proposed Promenade on the surrounding area

The study was made possible through partial funding by the Pool of
London Partnership.

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Space Syntax
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Project team

Client Michael Davis, Executive Project Director

The Thames Promenade Co. Ltd.

Concept Michael Davis

Michael Davis Designs

Architects, Masterplanners, Darrel Conybeare and Bill Morrison

Urban and Landscape Conybeare Morrison International Pty Ltd.
Design Consultants

Urban Integration Tim Stonor

Space Syntax

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Space Syntax
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Original concept

Reconnecting people to the river

Showcase London to the world

Create a stage for great celebrations

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The London Promenade

Prepared for: The Thames Promenade Co. Ltd.

Created by: Michael Davis Designs
In collaboration with: Conybeare Morrison International Pty Ltd,
Architects, Masterplanners, Urban and Landscape Design
Consultants
Space Syntax
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Consultation

GLA Paul Harper & Jamie Dean, AUU

Val Shawcross, GLA member
LB Southwark Cllr Nick Stanton, leader
Cllr Jeffrey Hook, head of regeneration
Paul Evans
CABE Selina Mason, director of design review
Julia Thrift
CRP Savas Sivetides
PLP Linda Houston
CLP Pat Brown
BETTER BANKSIDE Giles Semper
TATE Donald Hyslop
LIVING STREETS Tom Franklin
SBC Michael Lynch
Mike McCart
URBED Nick Faulkes
Esther Caplin
SBCA Rowan Moore

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Space Syntax
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Integrated infrastructure

The new pedestrian and cycling artery will:

• improve the infrastructure of Central London and be a major incentive

for commuters to walk or cycle to work, relieving congestion on roads and
public transport

• provide an attractive alternative route to the City and the West End for
the increasing number of South Bank residents

• link major commercial employers along the whole of the south bank
directly to the Waterloo, Blackfriars and London Bridge suburban
interchanges of rail, bus and tube, and to the new pedestrian bridges at
Hungerford, Bankside and the proposed Jubilee Bridge at Cannon Street.

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Space Syntax
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New cultural quarter for London

The new pedestrian and cycling artery will:

• benefit the capital as a whole by creating a new, metropolitan park of

international importance

• create a new visitor spine, relieving the Covent Garden, West End and
Knightsbridge axis

• link major visitor and cultural attractions from the South Bank Centre to
Tate Modern, the Globe, Vinopolis, Southwark Cathedral, City Hall, Tower
Bridge and the Design Museum

• capture the growth and wider regeneration benefits expected over the
next 10 – 15 years, through Elephant & Castle, London Bridge and Waterloo
opportunity areas

• allow the central urban section of the River Thames to be used as the stage
for great celebrations and festivals, including the Olympics in 2012. The
promenade itself will develop existing capacity by 150,000 spectators at
moderate density in safety.
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Space Syntax
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2.5km recreation facility

The London Promenade will provide:

• a wide recreation facility with greater capacity for walkers, joggers,

runners, roller-bladers and cyclists

• a traffic-free environment, with piazzas opening on to it, as at Tate

Modern, Southwark Cathedral, The Scoop and Potters Fields Park

• diversity and interest through pavilions, kiosks, piers, different surface

treatments, and international public sculpture

• the climax of the long-distance Thames Path and a setting for major
events such as the London Marathon, the Lord Mayor's Show on the
river, the London International Festival of Theatre, Son et Lumière, and
New Year Fireworks displays.

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Economic potential

The London Promenade will:

• further unlock commercial potential along its whole length, with

shops, cafés, bars, hotels, restaurants, galleries, markets and
performance arts

• promote the day-and night-time economies of London South

Central and benefit local businesses, creating jobs and
encouraging investment

• increase levels of visitors who will, in current terms, bring an

estimated extra £ 650 million pounds per annum to the area

• be a strategic project for London with the potential to generate

substantial economic and social benefits for London as a whole
as well as more localised impacts in Southwark.

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Space Syntax
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The Thames

The London Promenade will:

• celebrate the historic central urban section of the River

Thames, the dramatic ebb and flow of the tide, its bridges, its
ever-changing river activities, and the views of the urban north
bank

• provide greater access to the foreshore, whose ecology will be

protected and enhanced

• create a “Blue Ribbon” park, which will connect North London to

South London, and will revitalise and promote the use of the river.

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Spatial Accessibility Transport

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.Licence number: 100032229

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 Easily accessible by all means of public transport

0 125m 250m
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Space Syntax
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Spatial Accessibility North - South Connections

Space Syntax model of Elephant & Castle development proposal showing the connection to Tate Modern
Commissioned by The London Borough of Southwark
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 Tying together the key north-south routes adding value to the new creative
industries quarter in London South Central

Ease of movement along the London Promenade and new identities will open up the north-south routes which it will
Space Syntax make easier for pedestrians to move into the new creative industries quarter in London South Central.
London Promenade Urban Integration Study 29
Site Context Development Sites

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 Part of the continued regeneration process of London’s south bank

0 125m 250m
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Riverside Walk Peak Pedestrian Flows

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 Pedestrian flows are high throughout

0 125m 250m Information based on pedestrian movement data collected by Space Syntax between 2000 and 2005.
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Riverside Walk Width

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 Several segments of current route are narrow

0 125m 250m The width of the Riverside Walk was measured based on OS map 2002.
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Riverside Walk Peak Pedestrian Density

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 Pedestrian comfort is compromised

0 125m 250m Density was calculated by dividing pedestrian flow levels (hourly basis) by the width of the Riverside Walk (in linear meters). Pedestrian comfort, in this
Space Syntax particular instance, refers to increase in density (over-crowding). Other factors may also affect comfort, but were not part of the scope of this study.
London Promenade Urban Integration Study 37
Twists and Turns Existing

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 Too many twists and turns causing confusion and preventing visitors from spending
more time and money along the south bank

0 125m 250m A legible route encourages pedestrians to explore, and spend more time along the promenade and in the surrounding area. A higher number of
Space Syntax visitors will bring more money to the whole area benefiting both new and existing local business.
London Promenade Urban Integration Study 39
Twists and Turns Proposal

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 Enhanced way-finding and visitors can now enjoy the river walk and its views
The increased width allows improved management of cyclists and pedestrians

0 125m 250m
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Spatial Accessibility Increase compared with existing

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 A much more accessible route

0 125m 250m For a technical description of ‘accessibility increase’, refer to ‘Space Syntax Methodology’ at the end of this report. The current analysis
Space Syntax does not include access between bridges and walkways which will be the subject in further studies.
London Promenade Urban Integration Study 43
Space Syntax
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Space Syntax
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2006 New Year celebrations
Pedestrian Movement Current and Potential Use of the Riverside Walk - South London

people per year

10,000,000
9,000,000
8,000,000
7,000,000
6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0

Bridge

Southwark Bridge

Bridge
Waterloo Bridge

Tate Modern

More London

Shad Thames
Tower
400

600

800

1000

1200

OXO 1400

1600

Blackfriars 1800

2000

2200

2400

2600

2800

3000

London 3200

3400

3600

3800

4000

4200

4400

4600
location

Existing data by Space Syntax on pedestrian flows show that 30 million people a year currenlty use the Riverside Walk. The construction of
the London Promenade will increase the accessibility to this area. Based on the increased levels of accessibility, it is estimated that a further
30 million people will use the Riverside Walk. These visitors will, in current terms, bring in an extra £650 million pounds per annum1 to the
area.

1. Based on a marketing survey commissioned by the Pool of London Partnership on visitors’ spending levels in the area (2002).

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Pedestrian Movement Current and Potential Use of the Riverside Walk - South London

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number: 100032229

30 million people

60 million people

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Space Syntax methodology
Space Syntax specialises in the analysis and
design of urban environments and, in particular,
the design of pedestrian linkages and public
spaces.
We make direct observations of pedestrian and
vehicular activity patterns, identify the important
factors that influence these patterns, and then
use purpose-designed computer programs to
incorporate these factors into models that
forecast the effects of new developments.
Spatial integration
An important measure that helps us understand
the spatial structure of an area and its effects on
pedestrian activity is called ‘spatial accessibility’.
Accessibility is based on a map of spatial
connections called ’spatial accessibility map’. The
’spatial accessibility map is constructed on the
basis of an accurate scale map, by drawing the
longest and fewest straight lines, or ‘lines of
sight’, that pass through all the accessible space
in an urban area. The resulting pattern of
intersecting lines is then digitised and the inter-
relationships amongst the lines are analysed
using a bespoke software package. Through this
process an understanding of the essentially
spatial structure and features of an area is built
up.
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Spatial accessibility values can then be Movement patterns: the influence of spatial
calculated from the spatial accessibility map by configuration
first selecting a line, then calculating how many
other lines must be used wholly or in part to reach
every other line in the whole spatial accessibility Independent research has consistently shown
map. When this calculation is made for each line that spatial configuration as measured by
in the map it turns out that some lines require integration is one of the key factors that influence
fewer changes of direction than others in order to movement in urban areas.
cover the rest of the spatial accessibility map.
Spatial accessibility maps frequently provide a
In every processed spatial accessibility map each robust forecast of actual patterns of movement,
line has a ’spatial accessibility value’ assigned to with the distribution pattern of movement closely
it. This value reflects the complexity of routes following the distribution of accessibility values.
from that line to all the others within the system. We call the amount of movement that can be
This complexity should influence movement in accounted for by spatial configuration the ‘natural
two ways. First, an accessible line is more easily movement’ of an area.
accessible than a segregated one because it can
be reached by simpler routes from other lines –
thus it should receive a high degree of ‘to’
movement.
Second, a more accessible line should be more
likely to be selected as part of a route between
other pairs of lines: that is, it will attract more
‘through’ movement. It is the combination of their
role in ‘to’ and ‘through’ movement that make
spatial accessibility values a reasonable measure
to consider in estimating movement potentials.
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