Air pollution in London – how to solve the problem

Posted on Posted in urban design
solve London's air pollution problem
Good urban landscape design can solve London’s air pollution problem

King’s College London Air website has made a great contribution to surveying and analysing London’s air pollution problems but hangs up its gloves when faced with the question: CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS? King’s say ‘a long term problem that has not been easy to solve’. Fair enough: they are scientists. Solving the air pollution problem requires the vision and imagination of  urban landscape designers. I’ve taken advice from a few of them. London should:

  1. Make every street a greener street, with more vegetation, more space for cyclists, more space for pedestrians – and less space for air polluting vehicles
  2. Remove on-street car parking in Central London, except for disabled people
  3. Increase the level of investment in cycle lanes, between two-fold and ten-fold.
  4. Make car-share of electric vehicles the most financially attractive choice in the suburbs
  5. Assess a sewerage charge for each dwelling, to encourage green roofs and sustainable drainage in gardens
  6. Follow Oslo’s example and set a target for making the Central Business District car free.
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Tom Turner