Kennington Oval Reimagined

Kennington Oval Reimagined: Trial Designs

Reimagined public space

Lambeth Council want to make our neighbourhoods fit for the future. This means designing streets and public spaces that are clean, vibrant and climate resilient as well as enabling people to lead healthier, happier lives.

In this inner London neighbourhood with two primary schools and where 68% of households don't have access to a car, we want the trial designs to create a reimagined public space where local people can spend time, where children from the local area and schools can play. This aligns with our ambitions to become a UNICEF accredited Child Friendly borough.

The Kennington Oval Reimagined trial will have planting, seating, play areas and cycle parking and have been shaped by the local engagement we carried out from October 2023 - January 2024. This includes input from our Accessibility Working Group.

Where are the changes happening and what will they look like?

The full designs can be found in the attachments at the bottom of this page along with the associated Equality Impact Assessment and Accessibility Working Group feedback. The Decision published by Lambeth Council regarding the implementation of this project can be found here.

In February 2024, 2 School Streets were introduced outside Henry Fawcett Primary School and St. Mark's Primary School. The Kennington Oval Reimagined scheme seeks to build on these School Streets by further transforming them into child friendly public spaces.

On Bowling Green Street, we will be extending the pavement using timber decking and planters, in order to create more safe space for children as they arrive at and leave school. This space has spaces for parents to sit while picking up and dropping off their children. Below is an illustration of what the scheme could look like:

Outside St. Mark's Primary School on Kennington Oval, we will create a fully pedestrianised space filled with planters, colour and playful features. This provides a safe and playful space for children who attend this primary school, as well as making it easier for others to walk, wheel and cycle here. Below is an illustration of what the scheme could look like:

On Kennington Oval, behind the Oval Cricket ground we will create a colourful pedestrianised space. Below is an illustration of what the scheme could look like:

How will I access my property if I have a motor vehicle?

All properties within the area will remain accessible by motor vehicle, but the access route may change due to the new trial layout. Details of the new street layout are shown below.

The changes to vehicle circulation are:

• closures to general vehicular traffic on Kennington Oval south-east of Clayton St, in front of St Mark’s Primary School, and on Bowling Green St south-west of Magee St;

• new one-way sections for motorised traffic on Kennington Oval between Vauxhall St and Clayton St, and on Bowling Green St by Henry Fawcett Primary School.

• Kennington Oval can be reached via Vauxhall Street

• Clayton St can be reached either from Kennington Oval or from Kennington Rd.

All properties within the project area remain accessible by motor vehicle, although the access route may change with the implementation of the trial. All streets will still allow access to emergency vehicles and refuse collection vehicles will still be able to reach all properties.

Where will I be able to park?

Parking spaces (for either your cycle or motor vehicle) can be viewed here: https://streets.appyway.com/lambeth

Cycle parking will be provided throughout the project area on Kennington Oval, Clayton Street and Bowling Green Street.

There will be fewer motor vehicle parking spaces on Bowling Green Street, Clayton Street and Kennington Oval, but all of these streets will retain some parking, and there are plenty of remaining parking spaces within the Kennington CPZ. We have repurposed the under-used parking into new public space. This is supported by the fact that 68% of local households don't own a car and the parking stress surveys we carried out to inform the amount of motor vehicle parking we removed.