The City of London's Cool Streets and Greening programme has secured its future funding, ensuring that ongoing projects aimed at enhancing the Square Mile's resilience to climate change can be completed. The programme is designed to make the area more resilient to impacts such as hotter, drier summers, a trend expected to continue.

The Streets and Walkways Sub (Planning and Transportation) Committee met on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, to agree to ringfence remaining funds beyond March 2027. This decision provides funding certainty for projects that are not yet finished, allowing them to be completed without interruption. The committee's decision is detailed in the Public reports pack for the meeting.

A newly designed urban green space with raised planters and surrounding buildings.
Urban green space

The programme, which has been running for five years, has already completed the majority of its over 40 projects. The committee also approved the reallocation of £374,000 to other projects within the programme to maximise benefits. This includes the reinstatement of the Playhouse Yard project, which was previously paused. This project will now proceed, bringing additional greening to the west of the City where green coverage is currently limited. The reallocated funds will also further enhance existing projects and deliver additional greening opportunities .

Specifically, the £374,000 will support:

  • Phase 5: Playhouse Yard: This project is being reinstated and will also bring 20 years worth of maintenance money on beside it and has contributory external funds available for this project (from the FSQ BID) which would not be able to be utilised if the project does not proceed.
  • Phase 3: St Peter Westcheap: Additional funds are required for a standpipe to water the plants as well as establishment costs for the new planting.
  • Phase 5: St Dunstan's Hill: Additional funds are required for the costed risk provision as well as establishment costs for the new planting.

An artist's impression of proposed improvements to St Dunstan's Hill, featuring enhanced green spaces, seating, and pedestrian areas.
St Dunstan's Hill improvements

  • Phase 5: America Square: Additional funds are required for the costed risk provision.
  • Programme management and close down: Additional funds are required to oversee the final year and closedown of the programme.

Officers noted that a bid for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding is planned for 2027 to continue the programme's success beyond its formal end date in March 2027. This future funding will aim to create greener, cooler streets and improve conditions for walking and wheeling. This aligns with the City's Transport Strategy and Infrastructure Delivery Plan by aiming to create greener, cooler streets while also improving conditions for walking and wheeling along key routes . The programme also supports the Destination City Initiative and London-level aims of the new Walking and Wheeling Action Plan which aims to improve walking connections and access to green spaces .

Architectural rendering of a proposed urban green space with people interacting.
Urban green space rendering

Further details on the committee's discussions can be found in the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.