Plans to rip out Wandsworth’s notorious one-way traffic system have been scrapped by Transport for London (TfL), ending more than a decade of pledges, public consultations and political lobbying, despite the council setting aside £27 million for the work over ten years ago.
TfL has confirmed it will no longer proceed with the long-promised redesign, which would have seen the South Circular rerouted along Armoury Way, Wandsworth High Street pedestrianised for buses, cyclists and local traffic, and major safety and air quality improvements introduced.
Helen Cansick, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment, told Charlotte Lilywhite of the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the decision followed “detailed discussions” with the Department for Transport and Wandsworth Council. High construction costs and predicted longer travel times for buses and other traffic were judged to outweigh the benefits. Instead, TfL and the council will look at “viable options” for smaller-scale improvements to the town centre.
The announcement marks the collapse of a project that began with fanfare in 2014, when then Mayor Boris Johnson described the gyratory as a “car-clogged one-way system” hostile to pedestrians and cyclists. The first public consultation that year was “overwhelmingly supported”, and a second in 2016 confirmed residents’ backing.
£27m set aside – and £1m spent last year
In March 2022, then cabinet member for strategic planning and transportation Cllr John Locker said:
“More than a decade ago we set aside £27m for this task – money collected from housing developers in the town centre to help pay for precisely this type of local infrastructure improvement. This money has sat patiently in the bank account ever since. The reason it remains unspent is because this project can only be carried out by Transport for London.”
Infrastructure funding statements show that the £27m remained in place for years, but in 2023/24 nearly £1m of the earmarked funds was spent on the one-way system — it is unclear what the money was used for, given that TfL has now abandoned the scheme.
Years of Political Pressure
The delays prompted a string of questions in the London Assembly, with Labour AM Leonie Cooper repeatedly asking the Mayor for progress updates — in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and twice in 2023.
In March 2022, then Conservative council leader Ravi Govindia said he was “dismayed” at the continuing hold-ups and warned the revamp might be shelved entirely, noting that TfL had pushed ahead with the Hammersmith gyratory despite fewer recorded accidents than in Wandsworth. He called for the government to consider handing control of red routes to boroughs.
From Regeneration Centrepiece to Footnote
The original redesign [pdf] was billed as the centrepiece of Wandsworth town’s regeneration, with promises of safer streets, cleaner air and a more attractive shopping environment. The council’s 2023 Local Plan still committed to removing the gyratory — but by the time this year’s Growth Plan was published, all reference to the scheme had vanished.
The collapse leaves the congested junctions at Wandsworth High Street, Putney High Street and Putney Bridge still choked with traffic — a daily source of frustration for drivers, cyclists and bus passengers, and a persistent cause of illegal air pollution levels.
The council is now running a consultation on more modest changes to the town centre, with drop-in events planned for the autumn.
The Rise and Fall of the Wandsworth Gyratory Revamp
2014 – First public consultation
TfL launches a six-week consultation to remove the gyratory and reroute the South Circular along Armoury Way. Then Mayor Boris Johnson calls the one-way system a “car-clogged” hazard. Consultation is “overwhelmingly supported” by residents.
2016 – Second consultation
Detailed designs are published. Plans win public backing again. Work is due to start in 2017 and finish in 2019.
2017–2019 – Deadlines slip
No work begins. Council and TfL blame delays on funding and design changes.
October 2018 – Council renews calls for action
Wandsworth presses TfL to get moving, warning the delay is undermining regeneration plans.
March 2022 – Locker confirms £27m set aside
Cabinet member Cllr John Locker says the council earmarked £27m from developer contributions “more than a decade ago” and it’s “sat patiently in the bank account ever since”, as only TfL can carry out the scheme.
March 2022 – Govindia ‘dismayed’
Then council leader Ravi Govindia warns the scheme could be “shelved altogether” and says TfL is pressing ahead with Hammersmith gyratory despite fewer accidents.
2018–2023 – Repeated Mayor’s Questions
Labour AM Leonie Cooper questions the Mayor on progress at least nine times in five years, with responses citing ongoing “business case” work.
December 2023 – Business case ‘finalising’
TfL says it is finalising documentation to secure Department for Transport funding.
2023/24 – Nearly £1m spent
Council infrastructure funding statements show £973,800 spent from the one-way system allocation — unclear on what.
August 2025 – Plans scrapped
TfL confirms it is abandoning the original scheme due to high costs and projected longer bus journey times. Smaller-scale improvements will be considered instead.
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