One of London’s most famous streets is getting a grand redesign. Fleet Street, an historic thoroughfare between the City of London and City of Westminster (and once the capital’s printing and publishing hub) will be overhauled by new plans intended to make it a more pleasant place for pedestrians and cyclists.
Due to several developments in the area, it’s expected that the number of people passing through Fleet Street each day will increase by a whopping 40,000 people. To accommodate them all, the City of London Corporation has unveiled designs that won’t just make the road more welcoming and accessible – it should be greener and more sustainable, too.
There are two options currently being pitched for Fleet Street, both of which will have positive benefits for Londoners on their feet and two wheels. Both plans include designs with more seating, wider pavements and more greenery.
So, what are the differences? Well, option one has much wider pavements, with more plants, seating and places to relax. Crucially, it will include significant changes to road traffic, placing ‘greater emphasis on Fleet Street as a destination’. Here’s what that could look like.
Option two, meanwhile, will keep road traffic at current levels. While Fleet Street will still get new plants and seating areas, it will offer a more gradual change. Find a render of that vision below:
The plans are fairly similar, though option one is clearly much greener and would have a bigger impact on road traffic. Commenting on the plans, alderwoman Martha Grekos – Chair of the Fleet Street Area Working Group – said:
‘Fleet Street is one of London’s most iconic and historic streets, and this project gives us a unique opportunity to reimagine it for the future.
‘The design options we are bringing forward reflect valuable input from local businesses, residents and stakeholders, and demonstrate our ambition to create a greener, safer and more welcoming environment for everyone who uses this important route.’
A public consultation for the future of Fleet Street is currently open and you can have your say here until July 27 2026.
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