Richmond upon Thames Council is planning safety upgrades for Hampton Court Road, aiming to enhance cycle facilities and pedestrian crossings. The proposals, part of Phase 1 of improvements between Hampton Court Green and Kingston, focus on creating a safer environment for all road users.

The project is planned to progress to informal consultation with residents and businesses in the new financial year, with the aim of starting construction around February-March of the following financial year.

Map showing the area of highway works on Hampton Court Road.
Map of proposed works on Hampton Court Road

The planned upgrades include redesigning the bus stop adjacent to Hampton Court Green. The current temporary scheme, in place since 2020, will be replaced with a permanent solution that incorporates a widened bus stop bypass area. This will ensure cyclists are directed behind the bus stop, separating them from bus passengers and improving safety.

Existing zebra crossings near the Hampton Court Roundabout are also set to be relocated. Analysis of collision data suggests that the current placement of these crossings contributes to congestion and friction as vehicles queue back into the roundabout, potentially leading to rear-end shunt collisions. The crossing on the western arm, in particular, has three traffic lanes on approach, creating a hazardous movement for pedestrians, especially when traffic is queuing. Relocating these crossings away from the roundabout is intended to remove the potential for collisions and enhance pedestrian safety, while also improving traffic flow.

A street scene showing a bus stop, a cycle lane, and traffic on a road lined with trees.
Hampton Court Road street scene

While the proposals aim to minimise the impact on on-street parking, particularly in narrower sections of the road, alternative parking provisions will be explored as part of the design process. These provisions include cargo bike parking, e-bike/e-scooter bays, Bikehangars, non-accredited car sharing schemes, EV charging (subject to integration with EV chargepoint contracts), and resident parking. These will be considered dependent on location and after consultation with ward councillors.

These improvements are part of a larger, phased approach to enhance the Hampton Court Road corridor. Future phases are planned to address the roundabout itself and further stretches of the road towards Kingston. Specifically:

  • Phase 1: Hampton Court Roundabout to Bushy Park (Chestnut Avenue) - Changes to the temporary Covid scheme to enhance on-street cycle facilities, improved pedestrian crossings, and streetscape.
  • Phase 2: Hampton Court Roundabout - Focus on better driver discipline, removal of zebra crossings directly on exits, improved deflection, and overall road safety.
  • Phase 3: Hampton Court Roundabout towards Hampton - Removal of zebra crossings from the roundabout, new signalised Pegasus crossing outside stables, consideration of bus lane extension, and coach drop-off provision.
  • Phase 4: Chestnut Avenue to Kingston - Enhanced cycle lanes and removal of central hatching to allow for improved westbound cycle facility.

The council is also seeking approval to proceed with informal public consultation on these design concepts. Further details on the project can be found in the HCR report FINAL.