Low-traffic neighbourhoods here to stay as Highbury scheme made permanent

It means that all seven of the low-traffic neighbourhoods that were introduced between 2020 and 2022 as trials have now been made permanent, reflecting their positive effects.  

The neighbourhoods are central to the council’s mission to reimagine its streets, to help improve air quality, to make it easier for local people to enjoy the health benefits of walking, cycling, and wheeling, and to make the borough’s streets safer.    

Since its introduction in January 2021, the council has kept a close eye on the Highbury low-traffic neighbourhood – and has seen traffic fall both within the neighbourhood and on surrounding roads. Meanwhile, in a 2022 public consultation local people told the council that they’ve walked and cycled more to local businesses, and that they feel their streets are nicer.     

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality, and Transport, said: “For many years, local people told us they wanted to see action to create greener, healthier, more welcoming streets – and that’s why we’ve been delivering low-traffic neighbourhood trials since 2020.   

“Three years on, it’s clear that the schemes have delivered huge successes. Traffic has fallen in neighbourhoods and on surrounding roads, it’s easier for local people to enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of exercise, and air quality has improved.    

“We know, though, that there’s still much more for us to do. We’re going to be working to improve our low-traffic neighbourhoods further, and have ambitious plans to continue to work hand-in-hand with local people to transform the borough’s streets in pursuit of a greener, more equal Islington for all.”       

It can also today be revealed that the number of privately owned cars in the borough dropped from 37,372 to 34,217 between 2016 and 2021, reflecting the council’s work has helped create more space for walking, cycling, and wheeling.   

Despite the positive effects of Islington’s low-traffic neighbourhoods, the council knows that there’s still more work to do to create greener, healthier, more welcoming streets for all. 

So, the council is continuing to make improvements in its low-traffic neighbourhoods, including introducing new greening and taking steps to make it even easier for people to travel.    

The council has also committed to bringing a network of “liveable neighbourhoods” to the borough. Like low-traffic neighbourhoods, these will make it easier for all to walk, cycle, wheel, and use buggies and wheelchairs.   

But liveable neighbourhoods will also go further than that – they'll strengthen communities, create more attractive streets, and will make it easier for people to make use of their fantastic local businesses. Each neighbourhood will be shaped by the community it serves, and more information on the schemes and how you can have your say is available on the council’s website.