TfL moves forward with plans to transform Streatham Hill for walking and cycling

TfL is moving forward with permanent measures to make roads in Streatham much safer and less intimidating for people walking and cycling, following a public consultation that showed strong support for TfL's plans for the area.

This vital new scheme is in addition to wider measures TfL and Lambeth Council are taking across the borough as part of the Mayor's bold Streetspace programme to enable safer walking and cycling during the coronavirus pandemic.

The results of TfL's consultation into the scheme have been published today and show that 83% of respondents agreed that the proposals would make people feel safer cycling through the area, with 70% saying the same about walking.

Ensuring that people feel safe when walking and cycling is absolutely vital to enable more people to reduce their reliance on cars and switch journeys to more sustainable modes wherever possible.

More sustainable

The changes proposed for Streatham Hill, which TfL will now start detailed design work on, include:

• Nearly 2km of new, high quality segregated cycle lanes between Sternhold Avenue and Holmewood Road, making cycling much easier and safer on this busy stretch of road
• New pedestrian crossings and the relocation of existing crossings, making sure that people can cross safely at the most convenient locations
• Changes to side road entry and exit rules to reduce rat running on local roads
• Improvements to make the local area more attractive for everyone, including by planting new trees and improving landscaping in the area

TfL has listened to feedback from people responding to the consultation and made changes to the scheme to improve it, including increasing the amount of tree planting and making other changes to side road access to further reduce rat running in the area.

TfL will now work to finalise its designs for these changes to local roads and will look to start construction work early next year.

Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: 'We are doing all we can to support the increased numbers of Londoners who are walking and cycling and help prevent a damaging car-led recovery from the pandemic.

'Permanent road changes, such as the transformation of Streatham Hill, are key to this and it is positive that so many respondents to the consultation said it would make them feel safer on bike and on foot.

'Temporary improvements also play an important role as the success of our local Streetspace measures shows. We will continue to work closely with Lambeth Council to further support walking and cycling as the detailed design work for the A23 is completed.'

Transformational scheme

Penny Rees, TfL's Head of Healthy Streets Investment and Delivery said: 'The busy A23 route through Streatham Hill has long been a hostile and intimidating environment for people walking and cycling, which is why making these changes is so important to enable more people to get around by bike and on foot.

'These planned measures will make roads much safer and more attractive to people living, shopping and travelling in the area. We'll continue to work closely with Lambeth Council on further improvements, to support a green and sustainable recovery for local residents and businesses.'

Cllr Claire Holland, Deputy Leader of Lambeth Council (Sustainable Transport, Environment and Clean Air), said: 'I'm delighted that residents have shown their strong backing for this transformational scheme for Streatham High Road which will make it much safer to walk, scoot, wheel or cycle.

'We know that many groups in society are underrepresented when it comes to using a cycle to get around and we know that the main barriers are accessibility and danger, real or perceived.

'Only by delivering transformational main road schemes like this one, together with area-wide low traffic neighbourhoods on our local streets, can we make Lambeth into a borough whereby everyone has access to affordable and safe mobility options.

'We look forward to continuing our work with Transport for London to deliver on this and much more across the borough to build a fairer, equitable Lambeth.'

TfL has also been working closely with Lambeth Council to support more walking and cycling throughout the coronavirus pandemic, as part of its emergency response to the crisis.

Active travel has played a hugely important role in helping London avoid a car-led recovery from the virus and in making extra space on public transport for those that need to use it.

Walking and cycling accounted for around half of all journeys across the capital during the first lockdown last year, up from 29% before the pandemic.

Streetspace

TfL is working closely with Lambeth Council on plans for a Streetspace cycling corridor between Oval and Streatham that will enable more cycle journeys in neighbourhoods across southwest London, connecting even more people to the capital's growing cycling network.

TfL continues to work on final designs for the scheme and is planning to start work on the changes in early spring.

Thirty-two Streetspace schemes have been delivered by Lambeth Council so far and they have set out a strategy for monitoring these schemes to ensure they are successful.

Early indications from independent analysis commissioned by Lambeth Council on a low traffic neighbourhood on Railton Road shows an overall reduction in traffic of 27% across the area, with a 50% increase in the number of cycle journeys on Railton Road itself.

Upgrades to the CS7 route through the borough have also made cycling safer and easier for people making essential journeys or exercising by bike.

Monitoring in Colliers Wood further south along the upgraded route has shown that the number of cyclists has increased by 35% during the week, and 150% at the weekend.

Notes to editors

• Details of Lambeth Council's monitoring of its Railton Road LTN are available on the council's website here
• The consultation report is available on the TfL website at https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/roads/a23-streatham-hill/