Concept revealed for pedestrianised Leamington Parade
The Leamington Transformation Board have released their finalized “concept masterplan” for the pedestrianised Parade.
People’s Parade Middle, WCC
The board, comprised of authorities including Leamington Town Council, Warwick District Council, and Warwickshire County Council (WCC), released the finalised “Parade Public Realm Concept Masterplan” on January 26.
Possibly the most impactful change proposed within the masterplan is the removal of vehicle access from the Parade (from Hamilton Terrace to Clarendon Avenue).
The masterplan aims to […] prioritise the safety of women and girls while also considering neurodivergence
Many Warwick students would be affected by this as the plan would re-route essential bus services used by students commuting to campus from Leamington, as well as impacting those who travel to campus by car.
Town Hall Square, WCC
The plan’s aims focus on boosting the economy and improving the safety of the area. It also incorporates a focus on Leamington’s Conservation Area status.
Some major additions to the Parade involved in the plan include the planting of trees, a new Town Square, improved seating, and a water feature. Cyclists are also a focus as the plan aims to provide dedicated cycle lanes and secure bike parking.
The masterplan aims to make Leamington Parade much safer through improved lighting and design choices which prioritise the safety of women and girls while also considering neurodivergence.
People are overwhelmingly supportive
Mark Lee, Independent Chair of Leamington Transformation Board
WCC states: “This is a conceptual starting point which will be further designed, planned and implemented in phases, allowing improvements in line with budget availability, ultimately creating an overall larger transformation”.
The release of this final concept follows an eight-week public engagement exercise which took place in June and July of 2025. The outreach exercise revealed “majority support” for the pedestrianisation, says Warwickshire County Council, “with strongest agreement for integrating trees, planting and water”.
Euston Gardens View, WCC
WCC says overall agreement for the plan was 76.3%, compared to 21.2% disagreement. Mark Lee, the independent chair of the Leamington Transformation Board, told the BBC that people are “overwhelmingly supportive”.
The next step, says WCC, is for the Leamington Transformation Board to begin the next phase of designing with a focus on bus solutions, accessibility, and “access for deliveries and services”.
The conceptual masterplan has been presented to the Warwick District Council Cabinet on 5 February.
Comments (2)
Has any thought been given to people who hsve difficulty in walking and parking for disabled. What about the public who need a bus close to shops because of carrying shopping. What about the main road (I.e. Warwick Street) going straight down Willes Road and out to Radford Semele. The roads on the outskirts are not wide enough to take the increase in traffic and buses lined up., sometimes 4 or 5 at a time. The Council seems to have ignored this side of the matter even though it was brought up before
You state 76% in favour vs 22% against. How many people actually submitted their opinion in this study? How Representative is this study as a percentage of the Leamington population.
Has their been a study on the impact of traffic flow around the remaining roads and bridges open to vehicles to travel north to south and also across town as Regent street,Warwick street and Hamilton terrace will also effectively be closed by this plan.
This will force traffic onto streets inadequate for increased volumes of traffic and will probably result in a state of near permanent gridlock.
This effect will be increased if one of the remaining river crossing is affected by the near permanent state of road closures by Utilities in town,or the case of Princes drive by flooding.
How are emergency vehicles going to travel effectively through town ?
I could continue with concerns over public safety about inadequate lighting on alternative bus routes, cyclists speeding though the new pedestrianised area,safe road crossing on roads with increased traffic flow ,the cost to Council tax payers of this scheme.
Have you seen the state of The Parade now with uneven and broken paving slabs,rough patches of tarmac and concrete and block paving around
utility inspection hatches presenting slip and trip hazards especially for the elderly ,infirm and visually impaired.
How long after this new Masterplan is completed will one off the Utilities will come along and did it up to lay a new cable or pipeline then bodge the reinstatement of the paving .
Who are we doing this for.?How many spces for concerts,exhibitions,markets, seating areas do we need in Leamington
We have great Parks and gardens already for these events.
Where does Leamington stand as a shopping destination?
There are very few shops below Regent street,the larger units in the Priors are empty, the Rackams building largely empty.
Even the Charity shops are closing in numbers.
Leamington is becoming a town of bars, restaurants, cafes and coffee houses.
What is there to attract visitors to Leamington,how do they get here,where do they park?
I could go on and will if invited to.