Local people invited to have their say on plans to improve pedestrian experience on iconic Camden Passage

Full of unique, independent boutiques, markets and cafes, Camden Passage is one of Islington’s most loved streets. For years, it has been largely pedestrianised. The council is seeking views about the introduction of a new traffic filter at Charlton Place, which will prevent vehicles from cutting through Camden Passage and will fully pedestrianise the passage, making it a more people-friendly area.  

The plans are part of the council’s people-friendly streets programme, which aims to tackle the climate emergency and improve air quality by making it easier for local people to walk, cycle, scoot and use buggies and wheelchairs. The council has been listening carefully to feedback from local people, who have expressed concerns about the increased traffic volumes, higher vehicle speeds, through-traffic and vibrations from motor vehicles on Charlton Place, where vehicles cut through Camden Passage.    

To address these concerns, and to make the area more pleasant and environmentally-friendly, the council is proposing the following:     

• To stop vehicles driving through Camden Passage towards Upper Street, the council is proposing the installation of a traffic restriction at Charlton Place, which would retain access for vehicles from the south of Charlton Place. This could be a physical barrier, such as a bollard or planter, or camera-enforced.    
• Introducing outdoor seating, pavement widening and planting at Charlton Place where the street meets Camden Passage, to make it a more pleasant area for local people and traders.      
• Enabling people to cycle southbound on Charlton Place.   
• Adding measures to reinforce pedestrian priority across Camden Passage, such as tactile paving or a blended crossing, and cycle signage on the pavement.      
• Relocating and converting several car parking spaces on Charlton Place, and creating a flexible loading bay that can be used by residents outside operational hours.      
• Protecting the unique local character and heritage of Camden Passage.  

Local people are at the heart of everything the council does, and a public consultation on the proposals is currently open. The consultation began on Monday, 25 July and will run until Monday, 22 August. The consultation can be accessed via the council’s website.      

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality, and Transport said: “Making it easier for local people to walk, cycle, scoot and use buggies and wheelchairs is crucial to creating a cleaner, greener, healthier Islington that can achieve net zero carbon status by 2030.    

“We’ve been listening carefully to feedback from local people and traders about the impact of increased traffic volumes on Charlton Place cutting through Camden Passage, which is one of the borough’s most iconic shopping streets. As well as reducing traffic, our proposals will make the area more pleasant through greening and by allowing businesses to make use of widened pavements to install seating.    

“We’re really keen to ensure that local people are able to have their say on these exciting proposals and look forward to hearing their views, which will inform our final decision.”     

Ben Stephenson, Chief Executive of angel.london, the Business Improvement District for the Angel, said: "As the voice for businesses in the Angel, we are pleased to be consulting with Islington Council on this project to ensure a beneficial outcome for business owners, workers, suppliers, residents, and those visiting the Angel."