Request ID: FOI-1097-2122 Date published: 20 September 2021
You asked
Highbury Corner roundabout
Please supply the following information:
1. The total cost of the redevelopment scheme.
2. What were the objectives?
3. Have those objectives been met?
4. What has happened to congestion and pollution levels?
5. What is the incidence of accidents before and after the scheme?
6. What has been the impact on cyclists?
7. What assessment was made for cyclists on entering and exiting the roundabout
We answered
TfL Ref: 1097 - 2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 26 August 2021 asking for information about Highbury Corner roundabout.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Your questions and our replies are as follows:
1. The total cost of the redevelopment scheme. The actual spend to March 2021 for the Highbury Corner Roundabout scheme is £8.2m.
2. What were the objectives? The objectives of the scheme are as follows:
Improving the environment (Incorporating the arboretum into the new urban design and creating a new green space around Highbury Corner).
Increase in walking ( Support an increase in walking by creating safe, attractive and accessible streets and public spaces that people can use and enjoy).
Increase in Cycling (Enable more people to cycle safely and more often by providing segregated cycle lanes).
Reduce Casualties ( Facilitate a reduction in the number of fatal and serious collisions for all road users).
3. Have those objectives been met? The objectives have largely been met and the intimidating 1960s roundabout has been replaced by two-way roads, with improvements including:
Segregated cycle lanes on all three sides of the new junction
A new green public space for everybody in the area to enjoy, including a new Highbury & Islington station forecourt
New, wider and 'straight across' pedestrian crossings, which are easier to use than the old two-stage crossings
More green space by partially opening the arboretum to public access
A new shared pedestrian/cycle toucan crossing across St Paul's Road to allow two-way cycling to and from Corsica Street
The objectives have been rigorously assessed against TfL’s business outcomes and the Mayors Transport’s Strategy and its alignment with the Healthy Streets Approach. However, benefits for schemes of this size are measured over a longer period as it takes time for people to adjust travel behaviour to the new arrangements. Typically, schemes are measured over three years, so we are still within the monitoring and review period.
4. What has happened to congestion and pollution levels? Congestion Level: Following the completion of Highbury Corner roundabout scheme in autumn 2019, traffic levels in the area have changed significantly. The introduction of the Government lockdown restrictions, coupled with temporary road closures by utility companies and changes to access to some local roads in the area as part of Islington Council’s Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes have all impacted on traffic in the area in different ways. TfL has recently introduced new signal strategies at Highbury Corner, to manage the operations and provide a balance of signal timings and progressions for all road users, without impacting pedestrian wait time. A continuous monitoring strategy is also in place, to allow for further adjustments in September once schools are back in session. Pollution level: TfL does not hold the data to answer this part of your request. Howeverdata on air quality in London is available on a number of other websites such as the following ones: https://maps.london.gov.uk/air-quality/ http://londonair.org.uk/london/asp/annualmaps.asp https://www.breathelondon.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlZzHkZfI7AIVyPvjBx1OjginEAAYASAAEgK2hvD_BwE 5. What is the incidence of accidents before and after the scheme? Table 1 below summarises the collisions per annum in the three-year pre-construction period, compared to the collisions recorded in the twelve months post-construction (taken from available validated Metropolitan Police data). A detailed analysis of the collision data is also included within table 1.2 Table 1 – Collision Totals for Highbury Corner
COLLSTATS GIS polygon Ref.
Description
Pre-construction collisions
Pre-construction collisions. Annual average*
Post-construction collisions
Highbury Corner RSA4
Highbury Corner Gyratory Removal Scheme
33
11
11
TOTAL
33
11
11
* The annual average collision rate is calculated to allow a direct comparison to be made with the 12-month post-construction period. When analysing the area as a whole, the collision rate has remained static at 11 Personal Injury Collisions (PICs) per annum on average. Table 1.2- Collision Analysis – Detailed below is a summary of the collision data for the scheme.
Pre-construction collisions
Fatal
Serious
Slight
Total
Year 1 - April 2015 to March 2016
0
0
12
12
Year 2 - April 2016 to March 2017
0
2
11
13
Year 3 - April 2017 to March 2018
0
0
8
8
Total Collisions
0
2
31
33
Average Annual Collision Rate
0.00
0.67
10.33
11.00
Table 1.3 Post-construction collisions
Fatal
Serious
Slight
Total
Year to October 2020
0
3
8
11
Average Annual Collision Rate
0.00
3.00
8.00
11.00
In the 36-month pre-construction period, there were 33 PICs recorded at an average of 11 per year. In the 12-month period post-construction, representing the most recent validated Metropolitan Police data that is available, 11 PICs were recorded. This represents no change in the collision rate at the Highbury Corner junction in the post-construction period.
6. What has been the impact on cyclists?
Information on this aspect will be published later this year, as part of the cycling counts and intercept monitoring survey for the Highbury Corner roundabout scheme.
Therefore in accordance with the FOI Act, TfL is not obliged to supply you with the contract you have requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information, under Section 22 of the Act. In this instance the exemption has been applied as the information you have requested is intended for future publication.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to assess whether the public interest in applying the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. In this instance, it is considered that the public interest favours the publication of this information, in context and according to the pre-determined schedule, rather than in response to your request, to ensure the information is provided accurately and in an accessible manner.
7. What assessment was made for cyclists on entering and exiting the roundabout
In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
