Plans for a pedestrianised boulevard through Wimbledon are being drawn up as part of a £25m bid to increase cycling.

Merton is one of eight London borough’s currently bidding for a slice of the mayor’s £100m ‘mini Holland’ fund to improve cycling facilities with up to four successful boroughs set to be announced in early 2014.

Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environment and regeneration, said officers are "seriously investigating" the pedestrianisation of the Broadway as part of its bid.

Coun Judge said: "The Broadway has a lot of potential and it should be a boulevard of very fine buildings that serves local people.

"That means buildings that are handsome with a range of shops, restaurants and cultural facilities.

"I hope we are going to be looking at a tree-lined Broadway.

"I have asked officers to investigate the pedestrianisation of the Broadway with cycling facilities between where it turns off at TK Maxx and the Piazza."

Last week business leaders, including renowned architect Lord Richard Rogers, attended the Future Wimbledon conference in which he put forward his vision for a pedestrianised high street taking inspiration from Barcelona’s Las Ramblas.

Although not discussed in detail at the event, Coun Judge, speaking after the event, made clear his opposition to a 24-storey tower block on the Broadway - one of a variety of designs drawn up by the YMCA for the redevelopment of their building.

He said: "It is great that site is being redeveloped because the building is not fit for purpose, but I wouldn’t support anything higher than the current height and I don’t think our core planning strategy would either.

"I would say that the building is as tall as it should be and I would be against any increase in height along the Broadway at that point."

No formal proposals have yet been put forward by the YMCA with a public exhibition on finalised plans due in October.