The stretch will be the latest part of the Square Mile to be closed off to cars (Picture: Getty Images)

Chancery Lane will be shut to cars later this month, as it becomes the latest area of London to toy with the idea of pedestrianisation.

Various parts of the capital – including Soho – have been trying to reduce car usage and make the areas more friendly to visitors in recent years, particularly during the Covid pandemic. 

Now, Chancery Lane will become the latest part of London’s Square Mile to take cars off the roads. 

Beginning on February 20, the historic street will have no vehicle access for the following 18 months. 

The new traffic restrictions will see the road closed off to cars between 7am and 7pm every day. 

Only black cabs, business owners and residents in the area will be able to access it via car. 

This map shows which parts of Chancery Lane will prohibit cars (Picture: City of London)

The experiment is the latest part of the City of London Corporation Pedestrian Priority Streets scheme.

It introduced similar measures post-lockdown. 

Graham Packham, chairman of the City of London Corporation streets and walkways sub committee, explained the experiment would provide ‘more space for pedestrians’ to ‘feel safe and comfortable’ walking around the capital.

He added: ‘We want to make Chancery Lane a more attractive place for people who work in the area, residents and visitors to enjoy spending time in.

‘We will be carefully monitoring traffic levels in the area to ensure the scheme doesn’t have an adverse impact on nearby streets, and take feedback from residents, businesses and other street users before making a decision on whether these restrictions remain in place permanently.’

The project also wants to identify ‘future public realm updates’ and ‘minimise adverse impact on neighbouring streets.’

Cars will be able to use Fetter Lane to travel between Fleet Street and High Holborn over the next 18 months, as the one-way northbound restriction in Chancery Lane will remain. 

The latest initiative comes just a few days after it was announced one of the Square Mile’s ‘most dangerous’ junctions would be going car-free. 

Queen Victoria Street’s junction with Bank Station permanently closed on Monday, February 13 as the Corporation embarks on a major redevelopment programme. 

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Only residents and black cab drivers will be able to access via car.