London Fields low traffic neighbourhood
In June 2020, we introduced a trial low traffic neighbourhood in London Fields to:
- create cleaner, quieter streets
- support people to walk, shop and cycle
- rebuild a greener after the pandemic
Seven traffic filters (planters in the road that allow only cyclists, waste and emergency vehicles to pass through) were introduced on Forest Road, Lee Street, Laburnum Street, Greenwood Road, Middleton/Haggerston Road, Steam Street, Pricthard’s Road, Richmond Road and Wilton Way. Two bus gates that allow buses, cyclists, waste and emergency vehicles to pass through were introduced on Richmond Road
Traffic and air quality analysis
Analysis of traffic, air quality and bus speeds data following the LTN’s introduction shows that:
- traffic was down significantly inside the LTN, with a mixed picture on boundary roads
- on boundary roads:
- traffic was down on Queensbridge Road and Whiston Road
- traffic was down in some places, and up in some places, on Kingsland Road, Mare Street
- traffic was up on Dalston Lane and Graham Road
- overall east-west traffic inside and outside the LTN was down by 11.57% (see below)
- air quality is predicted to have improved at 147 of 169 modelled locations in the area. At the locations where there increases in pollution, none exceeded national air quality objectives
- average bus speeds in the area have not changed significantly
- cycling has increased on monitored roads (Richmond Road and Middleton Road) by between 11% and 57%
We have also 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.
See London Fields LTN air quality modelling study (PDF 6.3mb)
Making the low traffic neighbourhood permanent
We have considered the comments made by residents alongside the traffic, bus speeds and air quality data. While traffic levels and air quality have improved overall in the area, we have heard concerns about some roads in the area.
Considering all this information, alongside our wider commitment to increasing walking and cycling and tackling climate change, we have made the decision to make the scheme permanent, with some important next steps.
We are continuing to monitor traffic levels on Dalston Lane and Graham Road after hearing concerns from residents there, using new live traffic monitors on each road.
You can read our full decision report and equalities impact assessment below:
Blue Badge access
Following feedback received during the engagement period about access for residents with disabilities, Blue Badge holders will be able to register a vehicle to be able to drive through the Richmond Road bus gates. The exemption starts from 21 March. Visit: hackney.gov.uk/blue-badge to register for an exemption.
Commonplace responses
Throughout the trial, the Council encouraged people to respond to the Commonplace page, which was used to identify issues with the LTN and make changes where appropriate.
- 5,685 responses were received on our Commonplace pag (4,076 were unique respondents)
- the local postcode (E8) accounted for 58% of responses that provided a postcode
- people who use a car or van were overrepresented in the overall results – 59% said they use a motor vehicle to get around, compared to car ownership rates in London Fields LTN of 22.6%
- overall, 40% of Commonplace responses wanted all or some of the filters to be made permanent, with 58% saying none should be made permanent
- in the local area (E8):
- 46% of respondents wanted to make all or some of the measures 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.
January update
London Fields School Street
Streetscene Officers are currently developing proposals on how they could adjust London Fields School Street if there are changes to the operational times of the Lansdowne Drive bus gate. We’ll send any changes to the way the School Street operates to residents and stakeholders for comments before implementation.
Permanent structures for traffic measures
Following the decision to make the LTN permanent, and once we secure funding, we will install permanent infrastructure to replace the temporary infrastructure such as metal planters on traffic filters. Once the funding to implement these changes is in place, we will give residents an opportunity to comment on permanent proposals before we implement them.
Ongoing investigations
During the trial period of the London Fields LTN, we heard comments from residents about issues you would like to see addressed.
To read a summary of these comments see Further engagement in response to issues raised during consultation.
We are investigating these comments and developing proposals. We’ll engage with residents affected before we make any improvements. The engagement will take place after the Lansdowne Drive Bus Gate consultation. As part of the engagement we would welcome comments about how we could improve other parts of the low traffic neighbourhood.
Further engagement in response to issues raised during consultation
We’ve heard comments and concerns from residents about other roads, and will carry out further engagement with residents on the issues listed below:
- stopping traffic using Laurel Street, Forest Road and Beechwood Road to access the LTN or cut through to Queensbridge Road
- investigate opening up the right turn into Queensbridge Road from Dalston Lane
- investigate extending the Lansdowne Drive bus gate operating hours
- consider additional measures for Fassett Square or relocating some filters south of Graham Road to resolve issues caused by the right hand turn ban from Graham Road
- reduce traffic flows along Whiston Road, including by investigating measures to prevent traffic from using this as a cut through to avoid Hackney Road and Queensbridge Road
- investigate the impacts of moving traffic filters between the A10 and Queensbridge Road to improve access for residents from the A10
- removing the left turn restriction from Mare Street into Richmond Road
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
Full traffic and air quality analysis
The tables in the document 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.
Air quality modelling
We commissioned an external consultancy, AECOM, to undertake air quality modelling to determine any potential impacts, both positive and negative, that the implementation of the London Fields LTN may have had on air pollutant levels both within the scheme areas and on the boundary roads. The air quality modelling considered changes to the annual mean concentrations of the air pollutants (NO2) and particulate matter.
The dispersion modelling uses complex computer software to estimate the levels both within the scheme in place and without, in order to allow comparisons to be made.
The London Fields low traffic neighbourhood is predicted to have decreased nitrogen dioxide concentrations at 147 of the 169 modelled locations, with 21 locations showing an increase. None of these locations had nitrogen dioxide concentrations that exceeded national air quality objectives.