Leicester City Council is investing £1.5 million pedestrianising a street which is known for its busy nightlife.
Work will get underway this month transforming Western Boulevard. The area, which is just outside the city centre and close to De Montfort University, is home to venues such as the Natterjacks bar, Little Tokyo restaurant, the Black Horse pub and the Dog House bar.
The council said the work, due to start on May 9, will create a more “people-friendly place” and give priority to cycles and pedestrians by limiting vehicle access, closing the road to unnecessary traffic at busy times and creating wider pavements for visitors.
The carriageway will be resurfaced in red asphalt and new trees will also be planted. Access from Duns Lane and New Park Street will be restricted to buses, taxis and cycles only, and the left turn from Western Boulevard will be closed to traffic, expect bikes.
Most on-street parking in Braunstone Gate will be removed – apart from disabled spaces – with the extra space used to create wider pavements.
Additional pay-and-display parking will be created in Bede Street and Western Road in response to feedback from local businesses and tenants will be able to apply for street café licences and outside seating areas.
Most of the measures were originally introduced on an experimental basis in the summer of 2020, and the permanent changes will be supported through the Transforming Cities Fund – an £80 million citywide programme of investment in sustainable transport, backed by £40 million of cash from the Department for Transport.
Work will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption. On-site traffic marshals will be available to assist with deliveries throughout the works, and access will be maintained for residents.
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Work is expected to be complete in spring 2023.
A council spokesman said: “Permanent mini-Holland schemes have been installed in other urban areas including the London borough of Walthamstow, leading to a huge increase in cycling and walking, and a 56 per cent drop in vehicle numbers.”
Deputy city mayor and Westcotes ward councillor Sarah Russell said: “Braunstone Gate is home to a vibrant and popular mix of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops and other independent small businesses. It is also a really busy and important route between De Montfort University and the West End.
“This much needed investment represents a huge opportunity for the area. It will help to make it an even more attractive destination, not just for the local community but for the whole city.”
Deputy city mayor Coun Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “We know these plans present huge opportunities for Braunstone Gate as we’ve had similar measures in place on a temporary basis for almost two years as part of our Covid transport recovery plan.
“By investing in making these improvements permanent, we can help make the area much more attractive and people-friendly.
“We’ve seen the success of mini-Holland schemes elsewhere over the last few years and investing in a similar scheme here will help support local businesses with a more attractive trading environment, while also helping us meet our obligations to cut carbon and improve air quality.
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“We want to help create a place where people feel confident to walk and cycle, but also somewhere that people want to go meet friends, have a meal or a drink and do a bit of shopping.
“It is vital that we continue to provide healthier, greener streets to accommodate future growth of the city and its economy, all of which supports our commitments to address the climate emergency and to reduce air pollution. We need to be radical and ambitious to meet these challenges.”
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