Hoxton West low traffic neighbourhood

The trial

In June 2020, we introduced a trial low traffic neighbourhood in Hoxton West to: 

• Create cleaner, quieter streets
• Support people to walk, shop and cycle
• Rebuild a greener after the pandemic 

Four traffic filters (planters in the road that allow only cyclists, waste and emergency vehicles to pass through) were introduced on Shepherdess Walk, Micawber Street, Ebenezer Street and Nile Street. 

Following feedback during the first few weeks of the trial scheme, we moved the Nile Street filter from close to the junction with Vestry Street to the junction with Provost Street. 

Making the low traffic neighbourhood permanent

After considering this information, alongside the responses provided by residents to our Commonplace page, we have now made a decision to make the low traffic neighbourhood permanent, with some changes. 

Read our the full decision report and other assessments:

• delegated powers decision report (PDF 12mb)
• air quality report (PDF 69.3mb)
• consultation report (PDF 1.8mb)

Traffic and air quality analysis 

Analysis of traffic, air quality and bus speeds data following the LTN’s introduction shows that:

• traffic was down by 46% inside the LTN and by 18% on boundary roads
• air quality is predicted to have improved at 58 of 62 modelled locations in the area, with increases in pollution of less than one per cent at four of the 62 locations
• average bus speeds in the area have improved: from 9.6mph in 2019 to 11.2mph in 2021. 

See Hoxton West LTN air quality modelling study (PDF 4.9mb)

Equalities impact assessment

We carried out a comprehensive equalities impact assessment, looking at the impact of the low traffic neighbourhood on groups with protected characteristics, such as race, gender or disability.

Changes to the low traffic neighbourhood 

Following feedback during the engagement period, Hackney residents with Blue Badges will be able to drive through the traffic filter on Shepherdess Walk, once they have registered a vehicle for an exemption. This can be their own or the vehicle of someone they know. 

Blue Badge holders with an exemption will be able to drive through the filter from 21 February. Visit hackney.gov.uk/blue-badge to register. 

We are also in discussion with Islington Council about providing exemptions from the St Peter’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood for Hoxton West Blue Badge holders. We will update Blue Badge holders with the outcome of these discussions. 

We are also making changes to the Sturt Street traffic filter, which will now be camera-enforced so emergency vehicles can pass through. 

Some residents living to the west of the LTN have told us about access issues there. We’ll continue to review the LTN to address these where possible. 

We will now seek funding to replace the planters by the filters with permanent features to enhance the look and feel of the area. 

We will continue to monitor the effects of the LTN and listen to feedback about the scheme. You can email comments to: streetscene.enquiries@hackney.gov.uk

Commonplace responses

Throughout the trial, the Council encouraged people to respond to its Commonplace page, which was used to identify issues with the LTN and make changes where appropriate. 

• 1697 responses were received on our Commonplace page
• 37% of responses were from the local area, with people who use a car or van to get around overrepresented in the overall results (64% of responses were from motor vehicle users, compared to the 30% of households in the borough that own a vehicle)
• overall, 31% of Commonplace responses wanted all or some of the filters to be made permanent, with 67% saying none should be made permanent
• in the local area (those who gave an N1 postcode), 31% of responses wanted all or some of the filters to be made permanent, with 67% saying none should be made permanent 
• among people who do not use a car or van to get around, 59% wanted all or some of the LTN to be made permanent 

The top two concerns raised in resident responses were increased traffic and air pollution, which is why the Council has completed comprehensive monitoring of the scheme before making a decision on whether or not to make it permanent.

Full traffic and air quality analysis 

The tables below compare traffic counts taken in July 2021 and November 2020 with the last available comparable count before the pandemic. Each traffic count is a daily average. 

Some counts are listed as not available either because there is no comparable pre-implementation count or because they were out of action or vandalised when monitoring took place. 

Traffic change on roads within Hoxton LTN compared to pre-COVID baseline

Traffic change on boundary roads of Hoxton West LTN compared to pre-Covid baseline

We are continuing to listen to feedback about the scheme.

You can email streetscene.enquiries@hackney.gov.uk with any comments.