A south west London town centre could be transformed with a new public square, free play area and greenery.

Richmond Council has unveiled £1.5million plans to deliver four key projects to launch its new vision for Richmond town centre.

The plans include turning Whittaker Square and Avenue, in the heart of the town centre, into a thriving public space hosting small-scale public events, markets and performances, which it expects to cost £250,000.

The Council plans to install seating and plants and take back some parking space as part of the proposals, which it said would address "the current lack of a 'town square' destination".

The authority has also set aside £150,000 for a central children's play area to address the lack of such facilities in the town centre and make it more welcoming for families.

The Council has budgeted £220,000 to improve navigation across the town centre and riverside, including new and improved signs, totems, information boards and local trails.

It is proposing to transform George Street into a pedestrian-friendly "standout area", with potential options including extra seating and greenery. It has set aside £200,000 for detailed modelling to finalise these proposals, which would then cost more to deliver.

The Council is set to carry out further work to develop the proposals and consult with residents and businesses, before confirming detailed costs.

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It has a total budget of £1.5million to deliver the projects but expects they would cost more overall, once the proposed improvements for George Street have been finalised. This means it would need further funding to carry out the full works.

The authority expects to carry out the works by 2028, if they go ahead in full.

A new report by Council officers said that while Richmond town centre was a "hugely popular tourist attraction", it was not excluded from national challenges facing high streets in the UK.

The report said: "As such, Richmond must also adjust by providing more diverse offers that will retain footfall and enhance day-to-day experiences. A clear vision, combined with a grounded, incremental action plan has been developed to ensure the town continues to thrive and can support the demand for change."

The wider vision for the town centre includes other projects which could be delivered over the medium to long term, although they do not have current funding.

These projects include regular pedestrianisation of the high street and other streets for events, reducing Duke Lane to a single lane for vehicles, removing parking from King Street and turning Old Palace Lane into a pocket park.

The vision also sets out proposals to introduce floating features on the River Thames, including gardens and arts spaces, improving Richmond Green, turning Richmond Lending Library into a youth hub, tackling empty shops and upgrading the space outside Richmond Station.

Officers are set to ask for funding at future committees to deliver projects in the wider vision, as more resources become available.

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The Council's Finance Committee will vote on taking forward the four priority projects in the vision for further development and delivery on 22 June.

READ MORE: Council seeks funding to refurbish Richmond Bridge.

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