A vision for Richmond town centre

A town centre that reflects what is special about Richmond

Richmond town centre is a unique place. It combines the diversity, culture and energy of central London with the beauty, history and calm of a Surrey market town.

Our riverside, parks and green spaces are at the heart of what makes the town centre special. So are our independent businesses, cultural organisations, strong community feel, historic buildings and distinctive network of streets and lanes.

But town centres are changing. Online shopping, home working, changing travel patterns and the lasting effects of the pandemic have changed how people use high streets. Richmond is not immune to these changes.

Our aim is to make sure our town centre continues to thrive while protecting and building on what makes it special.

We want Richmond town centre to be:

• A vibrant and distinctive place. Combining the energy and diversity of London with the character of a historic market town
• A place to enjoy and explore. Making better connections between our high street, riverside, green spaces, culture, shops and hospitality
• A greener, healthier and more inclusive place. Improving the experience of the space, making it accessible to more groups of people and reducing the impact of traffic and pollution

We started by listening

Before developing our plans, we wanted to understand what residents, businesses, visitors and community organisations love about Richmond and what they think needs to change.

In 2023, we commissioned a 12-week programme of engagement to understand how people use the town centre and what they want from its future.

The engagement reached 1,482 people, including:

• 1,116 online survey responses
• 366 people taking part in drop-ins, workshops and interviews
• 17 engagement events, including drop-ins, workshops, pop-ups and webinars
• 13 interviews with local organisations and networks
• People aged from nine to 90

Engagement took place in the town centre and online, as well as in schools, community centres, a foodbank and a co-working space.

We also spoke directly to businesses, charities, cultural organisations, sports groups and other local organisations.

What we heard

There was a strong sense of pride in Richmond and its distinctive character, but also a clear view that the town centre could do better.

The engagement gave us a detailed picture of what people value about Richmond town centre, as well as what they want to improve.

The strongest themes of the engagement were:

• A more diverse range of shops, leisure and activities
• Better public spaces
• Protecting Richmond's green, blue and natural spaces
• Improved traffic, air quality and movement around the town centre
• Better provision for young people
• Improved cleanliness, maintenance and street safety
• A more accessible town centre
• Better use of Richmond's heritage, culture and Riverside

The engagement also showed that people have different views about how these things should be achieved. In particular, there are different views about traffic, parking and changes to the high street.

That is why we are taking a long-term approach, developing projects carefully and continuing to engage with residents as individual proposals are worked up.

From engagement to a vision

The findings of the engagement helped shape the Richmond Town Centre Vision.

The vision is based on the feedback we got and is built around three ideas:

1. Global city energy meets market town charm

Richmond's unique character comes from its contrasts: the diversity and energy of London alongside the beauty, history and calm of a traditional market town.

Our town centre should celebrate that distinctive mix, supporting independent businesses, culture, hospitality and creativity while protecting Richmond's heritage and character.

2. Space to breathe

Our green spaces, riverside and heritage are some of Richmond's greatest assets.

The town centre should make it easier for people to enjoy them, while creating more opportunities to stop, explore, spend time and experience everything Richmond has to offer.

This means better connections between the high street, the river, the Green, cultural venues and other destinations, as well as more opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy the town centre.

3. Natural leaders

Richmond has a responsibility to lead on environmental action and social value.

That means protecting our green and blue spaces and celebrating nature throughout the town centre, creating greener, more biodiverse and climate-resilient places.

It means putting people at the heart of the high street, creating welcoming, accessible places where people of all ages and backgrounds can walk, spend time and enjoy Richmond, with good options for walking, cycling and public transport, alongside a town centre that works for those who need to drive.

And it means making practical improvements that help create a healthier, more sustainable and inclusive town centre for the future.

Turning the vision into action

The vision sets a long-term direction, but we know that residents want to see practical improvements now.

We have already started bringing this vision to life. Over the past year, we have made a number of practical improvements, including better lighting in the passage opposite the station and improved direct access from Deer Park car park to the Green, while also working with partners to create new reasons for people to visit and spend time in the town centre.

Centre Stage is a great example. Working with partners across culture, business and the community, we brought the town centre to life with a weekend of theatre, music, performance and activity. It showed what can happen when local organisations work together to create a vibrant town centre that benefits both the people who live here and the businesses that serve them. View photos from the festival and a video of highlights.

We have also developed a longer-term programme of ideas and opportunities, while prioritising projects that can make a tangible difference.

In June 2026, we approved the first stage of four priority projects to begin turning the vision into action. These are:

Whittaker Square and Avenue

Whittaker Square and Avenue are an important connection between the town centre and the riverside.

We want to create a better civic space that is easier and more pleasant to move through, but also somewhere people want to stop, spend time and enjoy. The space could support markets, performances and community events, while creating a stronger connection between the town centre and the river.

The project will deliver:

• Improved quality and accessibility of the public space
• Reduced conflict between vehicles and pedestrians
• Improved safety and connections
• A stronger link between the town centre and riverside
• Flexible space for markets, events and community activity

Reclaiming George Street

George Street is the heart of Richmond town centre. It’s a place where people have told us they want to shop, eat, meet friends and enjoy everything Richmond has to offer.

Our engagement showed strong support for improving the high street experience alongside concerns about traffic, congestion and air quality. Nearly three-quarters of vehicles travelling through the town centre are passing through to reach another destination, rather than stopping to use local services or businesses.

We have a vision for what George Street could become – somewhere that’s greener, more welcoming and gives people reasons to visit and come back to Richmond. Changes could create room for public realm improvements that encourage people to spend time in the town centre and support local businesses.

But first we need to understand what is possible.

We are undertaking detailed traffic modelling to understand how different transport arrangements could create more space for people and deliver benefits that improve the town centre environment. This includes understanding any impacts on the wider town centre and surrounding roads.

Any approach would need to work for the whole town centre, including residents, businesses, people walking and cycling, public transport users and those who need access by car. Diverting traffic around Richmond Green will not be an option.

The project will consider:

• How to create a more welcoming and enjoyable experience of George Street and Richmond town centre that meets the needs of residents, businesses and visitors
• Accessibility and social inclusion, so the town centre works for people of different ages and abilities.
• How public space, greenery, seating and room for cultural activities could be improved
• Opportunities to improve air quality and respond to climate change, including shade, cooling and better drainage
• How transport and access can work alongside a more people-focused town centre for people walking and cycling, public transport users and those who need access by car

We do not yet have a preferred option. There will be further engagement and consultation as proposals are developed before any decisions are made.

Little Green Play Space

Our engagement showed that families and young people want more opportunities to spend time in the town centre.

A new play space at Little Green is proposed, using natural materials and designed to complement its surroundings.

It would:

• Provide inclusive play opportunities
• Support physical and imaginative play
• Create a more welcoming space for families
• Encourage positive use of Little Green
• Provide another reason for families to spend time in the town centre

This supports our ambition for a town centre that is welcoming to people of all ages, while making better use of Richmond's existing green spaces.

Wayfinding and visitor experience

Richmond has a great range of shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, cultural destinations, historic buildings and open spaces, but our engagement showed that people do not always know where they are or how to find them.

Cultural organisations, sports clubs, businesses and residents all raised wayfinding as an issue.

We are therefore looking at improvements to signage, information and the visitor experience to make it easier to navigate between the high street, riverside, cultural venues, heritage sites and other destinations.

We are considering how seating interactive displays could form part of this.

Better wayfinding can also help support local businesses and organisations, in particular those that are tucked away from the main high street.

The practical things matter too

A successful town centre is not just about major projects.

The everyday experience matters just as much.

Alongside the longer-term programme, we are continuing to focus on practical issues including:

• Cleanliness and street maintenance
• Waste and bin collection
• Public toilets
• Street safety and tackling anti-social behaviour
• Accessibility

These are the things residents see and experience every day. Getting them right is an important part of creating a town centre we can all be proud of.

This is a long-term programme

We want to improve Richmond town centre carefully and thoughtfully, building on what already works while  tackling the issues residents have told us matter most.

Some elements of the Town Centre Vision will take time, while others can be delivered more quickly. We will continue to prioritise practical improvements, learn from what works and develop larger projects carefully.

Most importantly, we will continue to listen.

Residents, businesses, community organisations and other local partners have already helped shape this work. We will continue to engage as individual projects are developed, with consultation on proposals before decisions are made.