Streatham Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood

The Streatham Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) makes it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by stopping cars, vans and other vehicles from using local neighbourhood streets as through roads.

Since making the scheme permanent

 It was first introduced as a trial in 2020, and then made permanent in 2022.  Since then, we have been working on designs to upgrade the existing filters from temporary measures such as planters to permanent schemes at the following locations: 

  • Palace Road junction with Daysbrook Road 
  • Hillside Road 
  • Amesbury Avenue junction with Faygate Road 
  • Amesbury Avenue junction with Emsworth Street 
  • Mount Nod Road 
  • Rosedene Avenue junction with Stockfield Road 

A historic gate on Palace Road near the entrance to Coburg Crescent will also be replaced to stop motor traffic cutting through the estate.  A traffic calming scheme will also be introduced on Leigham Vale as part of wider improvements to the LTN area.  

A new filter has also been proposed on Palace Road on the junction with Leigham Vale to stop an identified gap in the LTN cell enabling motorists to cut through the area.  

These upgraded filters will provide a range of features including biodiverse planting, narrowing the junctions and enhanced public realm.  

In addition to this major public realm improvements will be delivered on Amesbury Avenue shopping parade similar to the Elm Park scheme in Tulse Hill LTN.   

The trial

In 2020, we introduced the Streatham Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) on a trial basis to help people travel safely whilst capacity on public transport was dramatically reduced due to COVID-19. Although the LTN was accelerated as part of the pandemic emergency response, Streatham Hill was also a strategic part of the council’s 2019 Transport Strategy Implementation Plan to achieve a 27% reduction in traffic across the borough by 2030.

To form the LTN, seven planters which act as traffic filters were introduced on the following roads:

  • Rosedene Avenue
  • Palace Road
  • Amesbury Avenue West
  • Hillside Road
  • Amesbury Avenue East
  • Downtown Road
  • Mount Nod Road

People walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting are able to access the LTN through any traffic filter. Blue Badge holders as well as taxis, refuse collection vehicles and emergency services can apply for a dispensation to access one traffic filter location – however, the traffic filters were designed to prevent other cars, vans and motor vehicles from using quiet streets as shortcuts. Following a grace period, motorists who drove through traffic filters began to receive fines.

LTNs make it safer and easier to walk, wheel, scoot and cycle by increasing feelings of safety, reducing air pollution and making local destinations more appealing. Over time, LTNs can encourage people to switch from driving to healthier and more sustainable ways of travelling. This is one impactful way we can tackle the climate emergency in Streatham Hill and throughout Lambeth.

Lambeth commissioned independent transport consultancies (including SYSTRA, MHTC and The Floow) to collect data on changes to traffic volume and air quality throughout the trial. You can read the Streatham Hill LTN monitoring stage 2 report. Analysis of the data demonstrates that:

  • The overall volume of motor traffic recorded across all streets within and on the boundaries of the LTN has reduced by 5%, around 6,100 vehicles less per day.
  • Traffic on internal streets has decreased by 54%. Traffic has increased by 13% on external streets (boundary roads). On Hillside Road, traffic volumes have decreased by 90%, while Hailsham Avenue saw a 76% reduction. Traffic has increased by 7% on Leigham Vale.
  • Cycling has increased by 54% on internal roads, and by 57% on external roads.
  • All locations selected for air quality monitoring and classed as ‘sensitive’ (e.g., outside schools and care homes) had air quality within legal limits. This includes sensitive sites on boundary roads.
  • Overall air quality in Lambeth is improving, partly due to measures such as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone. We expect to see greater improvements over time.

From November – December 2021, we held a consultation to hear people’s views on the trial. Some positive comments included:

  • A reduction in traffic (especially speeding traffic) on residential streets
  • Improved levels of safety
  • A reduction in noise and air pollution
  • Improvements to the public realm and opportunities for walking, wheeling and cycling

Some residents had concerns about:

  • Vehicle access for residents and taxis
  • Traffic volume increase on boundary roads and the impact on emergency service times
  • Impacts on people with protected characteristics (esp. disabled people)
  • Quieter streets feeling unsafe

Following a thorough analysis of consultation responses and monitoring data, we have decided to make the Streatham Hill LTN permanent. 

We’ve taken residents’ concerns into account by:

Our next steps, including how residents can be involved, are outlined below.

Upgrading the existing traffic filters 

We allocated collaborative design budget for larger-scale public realm improvements on Amesbury Avenue and to upgrade the filter at Palace Road and Daysbrook Road. Collaborative design allows residents to contribute ideas and share their views on changes and upgrades from the very start of the design process. The two collaborative design sites were carefully selected using the following criteria: 

Level of deprivation

We prioritise work in areas with higher levels of deprivation to reduce inequalities related to air pollution, car ownership and access to green space. 

Alignment with Lambeth’s Kerbside Strategy

We prioritise sites that offer more potential to implement Lambeth’s Kerbside Strategy.  

Proximity to a Lambeth Healthy Route

We prioritise sites that lie directly on a Healthy Route or act as a link to a Healthy Route.  

Potential to support community and business activation

Active, sustainable travel helps businesses and community groups flourish – check out the economic benefits of walking and cycling.  

Climate resilience

Greening our neighbourhoods will help protect against the impacts of climate change. We therefore prioritise sites that can accommodate greening and SUDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems). 

An online consultation where residents can contribute ideas for changes on Amesbury Avenue and Palace Road/Daysbrook Road was open from 16 January to 28 February 2023. To reach as many people as possible, we encouraged residents to submit their hand-written ideas to our neighbourhood mailboxes. Council officers have also been organising in-person engagement events, including leafletting, door-knocking and stakeholder workshops.

Results from the consultation were used alongside event and workshop feedback from the public to inform designs.