Pioneering proposal to create "street for children" in Islington

*** to download a high-res version of the image please click the thumbnail above - proposed transformation of Moreland Street ***

Islington Council is consulting on a pioneering proposal to transform a road near a primary school into a street for children, families and pedestrians.

Under the scheme, the first of its kind in Islington and thought to be among the first of its kind in London, Moreland Street in Bunhill Ward, EC1, would become an active area rebalanced in favour of children and the local community, with wider footways, measures to reduce vehicle speeds, and new plants and seating, to create a safe and comfortable space for children.

Proposals include:

• Creating more space for children and reducing vehicle speeds by widening the footway, adding a curve to the road layout and raising the road to pavement level outside Moreland Primary School
• Planting new trees and planting with a seating area
• Install bright coloured asphalt on the road near Moreland Primary School to make the area more noticeable and child-friendly, and adding coloured street lighting columns
• Shortening the pedestrian crossing distance to improve accessibility for all users

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “We’re committed to creating a healthier, greener environment across Islington to encourage people to walk and cycle, and to help tackle poor air quality.

“This pioneering proposal would create a child-friendly street outside Moreland Primary School, with wider pavements, new trees and plants and traffic calming to create a much better space for children and pedestrians.

“We want to rebalance the street so it is healthier and safer for children, creating a street that children can feel comfortable and relaxed in. It would make it much more pleasant for children and their families to travel to school on foot and transform an unfriendly city street into a child-friendly space.

“This very exciting project is one of the first of its kind in London and we invite everyone to give us their views in our consultation, which is now underway.”

To take part in the consultation, which ends on July 30, please see the consultation page

Moreland School reopened last year after a £13 million transformation from Islington Council, which created bright classrooms, group rooms, a hall and dance studio, multi-use games area and extensive landscaped outside space.