Changes proposed for Liverpool’s Lawrence Road

Potential car-free spaces, pocket parks, and improved pedestrian walkways are in the cards for the street, which is part of the broader Liverpool city centre to Childwall active travel route.

Liverpool City Council is hosting a consultation on the Lawrence Road proposals to tweak the road to make it more friendly for active travel. The consultation ends on 22 July.

Mott Macdonald designed the pitched changes for Lawrence Road. These include introducing raised pedestrian crossings, widening the pavement for pedestrians, and narrowing the carriageway. Parking bays would be retained at strategic spots. A rain garden is also being proposed, as well as the planting of more trees and benches.

Mott Macdonald is the lead consultant on the Lawrence Road project. Credit: via Mott Macdonald

The plans also include the utilisation of modal filters, closing off a small section of the road to cars. A few sections are proposed – including outside Picton Health and Children’s Centre and between the Talton Road and Bagot Street section of Lawrence Road. Taking cars out of the equation for those parts of the roadway would allow for more public spaces.

Also on the list of possible car-free spots would be around Garmoyle Road, which has become a popular spot for rat runs. Mott Macdonald’s designs show that removing cars from the Lawrence Road East section outside Frontline Street could help with the problem – as could making the area around at Garmoyle Road outside Gregon Memorial Institute car-free. Another idea is to institute one-way traffic for those eastbound on Garmoyle Road and looking to exit onto Smithdow Road.

See the full proposals and submit your feedback by going to liverpool.gov.uk/council/consultation-and-engagement/consultation/consultation-on-lawrence-road-neighbourhood-study.