Plans to change the road layout next to Hampton Court Palace are moving ahead after the project was hit with delays.

Richmond Council wants to improve the safety of hazardous stretches on Hampton Court Road, including Hampton Court Roundabout – one of the borough's worst junctions for collisions, it said, a number of which involve cyclists.

The authority won funding to develop a permanent scheme for Hampton Court Road after introducing temporary measures in 2020, which are still in place. These included new cycle lane and bus stop arrangements between its junctions with Chestnut Avenue and the roundabout to improve access for cyclists during social distancing.

But the council had to rethink its original plans for the permanent scheme in November 2023, after facing backlash over a proposed shared cycle path. Respondents to a consultation on the plans raised concerns the path would lead to angry confrontations between cyclists and pedestrians.

The authority has since been working on new designs for the scheme, which will be carried out in phases as and when funding becomes available.

Phase one of the project is expected to see the replacement of the temporary floating bus stop by Hampton Court Green, along with improved cycle facilities and pedestrian crossings from the roundabout to Chestnut Avenue.

The authority said phase one could cost up to £750,000.

Zebra crossings on the exits of the roundabout are set to be removed in phase two of the scheme to improve traffic flow and safety.

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Phase three is expected to see a new signal-controlled crossing for pedestrians and horse riders installed outside stables on Hampton Court Road, potential bus lane extension and new coach bays.

Plans for phase four include installing improved cycle lanes on Chestnut Avenue.

The council's transport committee approved plans to hold an informal consultation with residents and businesses on phase one of the scheme on March 16. Officers will then finalise the design and hold a formal consultation, before moving ahead to construction.

Chris Smith, the council's assistant director of engineering, told the meeting the project had been delayed for reasons including needing to clarify funding arrangements with partners.

He said the revised scheme would keep pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers "segregated as much as possible".

A previous council report said Hampton Court Roundabout had the highest number of collisions of any junction in the borough from January 1, 2018, to January 31, 2022.

It said many of the collisions were due to the closeness of the existing pedestrian crossings to the roundabout's entry and exit points – including vehicles suddenly stopping to allow pedestrians to use the crossings and queueing back from the crossings.

The council will hold an informal consultation on phase one of the project later this year, shortly followed by a formal consultation.

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