More than 30 more low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) could be built across London with funding from Mayor Sadiq Khan’s transport body, it can be revealed.
About 120 LTNs were introduced across the capital at the start of the pandemic in a bid to make walking and cycling safer and more attractive as Londoners were urged to avoid public transport.
But the schemes – which use CCTV cameras, penalty fines and bollards to prevent non-local motorists driving through residential areas – have proved divisive, with opponents blaming them for increasing congestion on adjacent main roads. About 100 of the 120 LTNs remain in place.
Now it has emerged that Transport for London has provided councils with funding “for the development of more than 30 more potential LTN schemes”.
It says LTNs “remain a key part of the Healthy Streets approach and we continue to support boroughs’ implementation of schemes with both funding and technical support”.
Recently approved LTNs include Lambeth council’s scheme in West Dulwich.
TfL said this could increase the number of vehicles on the boundary road – the South Circular Road – by 100 to 200 an hour.
It has asked the council to ensure buses are not delayed on other nearby main roads as a result of the LTN.
TfL regards LTNs as a key part of its expansion of cycle lanes, as many cycleways are on roads shared with vehicles.
Research published last year by TfL found LTNs introduced since 2020 had 50 per cent fewer road casualties and 74 per cent less traffic.
A poll of Londoners showed 58 per cent support for LTNs and 17 per cent opposition. But an Ipsos poll last month found that, UK-wide, LTNs attract 43 per cent support and 37 per cent opposition, with support falling to 39 per cent and opposition rising to 41 per cent when respondents are personally affected.
The LTN funding data was revealed in TfL’s annual progress report on the Mayor’s transport strategy – Mr Khan’s long-term vision to have 80 per cent of journeys walked, cycled or made by public transport by 2041.
The document revealed that the so-called “modal share” of active transport had increased from 62.3 per cent in 2022 to 64.2 per cent in 2023.
Some 36 per cent of daily trips in London last year were made by “private transport” – namely the car – while only 34 per cent were made by all forms of public transport.
TfL allocated £86.6m to the boroughs in 2023/24 for “healthy streets” schemes, such as LTNs, pedestrian crossings, 20mph speed limits and more cycle and bus lanes.
In the current 2024/25 financial year, an initial £66m was given to the boroughs for schemes including LTNs and school streets. The funding is expected to top £80.4m by the end of the year.
TfL is off track to meet the mayor’s target of zero road deaths or serious injuries by 2041. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, the number of fatalities increased from 75 to 102, while there was a 10 per cent annual increase in serious injuries to 3,859.
Earlier this month, campaigners who compile the annual “healthy streets scorecard” said TfL and borough councils were “dithering” while mayor’s active travel and road safety targets “slide ever further into the red”.
