Four-in-a-row as Islington remains top inner-London borough for healthy streets

The Healthy Streets Scorecard – which ranks London boroughs on the action that they’ve taken to make it easier for residents to walk, cycle, and wheel – recognised Islington as the top borough across the capital. It’s the fourth straight year that Islington has topped the ranking in inner-London, recognising the incredible work that’s been done to create more environmentally-friendly, welcoming streets for all. This includes: 

• The creation of seven low-traffic neighbourhoods, with research showing that air quality has improved overall within and on the roads immediately surrounding the neighbourhoods. 
• Working with local children, parents, guardians, and teachers to improve the school gate by creating 37 School Streets and through major improvements outside other schools.  
• Investing in making pavements across the borough safer and more accessible, especially for disabled people. 
• Working with local people to create more green space on streets, including by providing funding to turn their eco-friendly ideas into a reality.  
• Building new walking and cycle routes, including between Nag’s Head and York Way.  
• Committing to creating a network of liveable neighbourhoods, where local people can shape exciting changes in their communities - whether it’s repurposing car parking space to create new pocket parks, creating new spaces for children to exercise and play, or creating better routes to local amenities. 

These improvements are helping to create more pleasant communities, are making it easier than ever for local people to enjoy the health benefits of exercise, and are supporting local businesses by making it easier for local people to travel. Local people and businesses - including the Pedal Power group who run cycle sessions for disabled people - spoke about the impact of the changes - find out more about what they said.  

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality, and Transport, said: “Here in Islington, we believe that our streets are far more than just routes from A to B – they're community spaces that all should be able to enjoy using, and play a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of local people. 

“Over the past four years, we’ve seen how that vision has come to life. Through exciting schemes like our seven LTNs, 37 School Streets, building a network of cycleways, and pavement improvements we’ve created a greener, healthier borough for all, and we’re already seeing local people benefiting.  

“But we’re far from done. We’re working directly with local people to understand the improvements they’d like to see in their communities as we create liveable neighbourhoods, we’re expanding our cycle training schemes so that even more residents can take part, and we’re continuing to work tirelessly to transform Islington’s streets.” 

There are plenty of ways that you can enjoy and help shape greener, healthier streets in Islington, including:  

• Having your say on liveable neighbourhood or School Streets improvements in your area.  
• Seeing the improvements for yourself, and taking a scenic walk through the borough, by viewing the new “Footways” map of Islington.  
• Taking part in free cycle skills sessions, open to people of all ages and backgrounds, including those with mobility impairments.  
• Giving cycling a go through our no-commitment cycle hire scheme. 
• Joining a local walking or cycling group, available for people of all abilities.